Neodymium(III) iodide is an inorganic salt of iodine and neodymium with the formula NdI<sub>3</sub>. Neodymium uses the +3 oxidation state in the compound. The anhydrous compound is a green powdery solid at room temperature.
Heating neodymium and iodine in an inert atmosphere produces this salt:
It can also be prepared by the reaction of neodymium(III) oxide and hydroiodic acid to make a hydrate:
The anhydrate can then be obtained by heating the nonahydrate with ammonium iodide:
Neodymium(III) iodide forms green, water-soluble hygroscopic crystals. It has a melting point of 784ðC. It forms a nonahydrate crystal NdI<sub>3</sub>.9H<sub>2</sub>O â belongs to the orthorhombic crystal system, space group Pmmn, lattice constants a = 1.16604 nm, b = 0.80103 nm, c = 0.89702 nm, Z = 4.
NdI<sub>3</sub> also forms some compounds with N<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>, such as NdI<sub>3</sub>÷3N<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>÷2H<sub>2</sub>O which is a dark green crystal, soluble in methanol and ethanol and insoluble in water, benzene and toluene, d<sub>20ðC</sub> = 3.42 g/cmó.
NdI<sub>3</sub> also forms some compounds with urea, such as NdI<sub>3 </sub>5CO(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> which is a lavender color crystal.
NdI<sub>3</sub> also forms some compounds with thiourea, such as NdI<sub>3</sub>÷2CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)2÷9H<sub>2</sub>O which is a pale pink crystal.