Europium(III) acetate is an inorganic salt of europium and acetic acid with the chemical formula of Eu(CH<sub>3</sub>COO)<sub>3</sub>. In this compound, europium exhibits the +3 oxidation state. It can exist in the anhydrous form, sesquihydrate and tetrahydrate. Its hydrate molecule is a dimer.
Europium acetate can be obtained by stirring reaction of acetic acid and europium oxide under heating, and then diluting with water and crystallizing:
Europium can also directly participate in the reaction:
The anhydrous europium acetate crystallizes monoclinically in the space group C2/c (space group no. 15) with the lattice parameters a = 1126.0(3), b = 2900.5(6), c = 799.1( 2) pm and ò = 132.03(2)ð with four formula units per unit cell. The sesquihydrate crystallizes monoclinically in the space group Cc (No. 9) with the lattice parameters a = 1608.7(2), b = 1665.6(2), c = 839.1(1) pm and ò = 115.75( 9)ð with four formula units per unit cell. The heat capacity at 280 K is 803ñ16 J/(molâÂÂK).
Europium acetate can be dissolved in water, acidified with acetic acid, and the compound of divalent europium [Eu(CH<sub>3</sub>COO)<sub>2</sub>(CH<sub>3</sub>COOH)(H<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>2</sub>] can be obtained by electrochemical reduction.
Europium acetate can be crystallized in excess glacial acetic acid to give the salt [Eu(H(CH<sub>3</sub>COO)<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub>](H<sub>2</sub>O).
Europium acetate can be decomposed by heating, and the hydrate first loses water to obtain anhydrous, and then passes through basic acetate EuOCH<sub>3</sub>COO, basic carbonate Eu<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>3</sub>, and finally obtains europium oxide. The tetrahydrate of europium acetate decomposes in air over 6 stages to europium oxide.
Stage 1 at 135 ðC:
Stage 2 at 170 ðC:
Stage 3 at 210 ðC:
Stage 4 at 310 ðC:
Stage 5 at 390 ðC:
Stage 6 at 670 ðC: