Lutetium(III) nitrate is an inorganic compound, a salt of lutetium and nitric acid with the chemical formula Lu(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>. The compound forms colorless crystals, dissolves in water, and also forms crystalline hydrates. The compound is poisonous.
Dissolving lutetium oxide in nitric acid:
To obtain anhydrous nitrate, the powdered metal is added to nitrogen dioxide dissolved in ethyl acetate:
Lutetium(III) nitrate forms colorless hygroscopic crystals.
Forms crystalline hydrates of the composition Lu(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>â¢nH<sub>2</sub>O, where n = 3, 4, 5, 6.
The hydrated lutetium nitrate thermally decomposes to form LuONO<sub>3</sub> and decomposes to lutetium oxide upon further heating.
The compound forms ammonium hexafluoroluthenate with ammonium fluoride:
Lutetium(III) nitrate is used to obtain metallic lutetium and also as a chemical reagent.
It is used as a component of materials for the production of laser crystals.