Gadolinium(III) chloride

Gadolinium(III) chloride
Names
IUPAC name
Gadolinium(III) chloride
Other names
Gadolinium trichloride
Gadolinium chloride
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.338 Edit this at Wikidata
UNII
  • InChI=1S/3ClH.Gd/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3 checkY
    Key: MEANOSLIBWSCIT-UHFFFAOYSA-K checkY
  • InChI=1/3ClH.Gd/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3
    Key: MEANOSLIBWSCIT-DFZHHIFOAP
  • Cl[Gd](Cl)Cl
Properties
GdCl3
Molar mass 263.61 g/mol
Appearance white crystals
hygroscopic
Density 4.52 g/cm3
Melting point 609 °C (1,128 °F; 882 K)
Boiling point 1,580 °C (2,880 °F; 1,850 K)
94.65 g/100mL, 25°C[1]
+27,930·10−6 cm3/mol
Structure
hexagonal, hP8
P63/m, No. 176
Related compounds
Other anions
Gadolinium(III) fluoride
Gadolinium(III) bromide
Gadolinium(III) oxide
Other cations
Europium(III) chloride
Terbium(III) chloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Gadolinium(III) chloride, also known as gadolinium trichloride, is GdCl3. It is a colorless, hygroscopic, water-soluble solid. The hexahydrate GdCl3∙6H2O is commonly encountered and is sometimes also called gadolinium trichloride. Gd3+ species are of special interest because the ion has the maximum number of unpaired spins possible, at least for known elements. With seven valence electrons and seven available f-orbitals, all seven electrons are unpaired and symmetrically arranged around the metal. The high magnetism and high symmetry combine to make Gd3+ a useful component in NMR spectroscopy and MRI.

  1. ^ Saeger, Victor William; Spedding, F. H. (November 1960). Some physical properties of rare-earth chlorides in aqueous solution. Ames Laboratory Technical Reports 46. p. 38. Retrieved 19 October 2020.