The Ionic Strength Dependence of Rare Earth and Yttrium Fluoride Complexation at 25°C

Abstract

Formation constants for the complexation of yttrium and rare earth elements(YREE) by fluoride ions have been measured at 25°C. The ionic strength (μ)dependence of YREE formation constants in perchlorate solution for ionicstrengths between 0 and 6 molar can be expressed aslog_Fβ₁ (M, μ) =log_Fβ₁ ^o (M) −3.066 μ^0.5/(1 + 1.769 μ^0.5)+ 0.1645 μwhere log_Fβ₁ ^o(M) represents MF²⁺formation constants at zero ionic strength.The log_Fβ₁ ^o(M) results obtained inthis work are: Y(4.46), La(3.62), Ce(3.86),Pr(3.84), Nd(3.82), Sm(4.15), Eu(4.27), Gd(4.24), Tb(4.37), Dy(4.39), Ho(4.28),Er(4.27), Tm(4.29), Yb(4.39), and Lu(4.25). The relative magnitudes of YREEformation constants are independent of ionic strength. The pattern oflog_Fβ₁(M,μ),formation constants obtained in this work [relative magnitudes oflog_Fβ₁ ^o (M)],exhibits a shallow minimum between Dy and Yb. In contrast to the smoothpattern of stability constants expected if fluoride were to interact with bare ions(with monotonically decreasing crystal radii between La and Lu), theinteractionof F⁻ with YREEs, which have extensive hydration spheres[M(H₂O)_8–9 ³⁺] resultsin a relatively complex pattern of lanthanide stability constants. The fluoridecomplexation behavior of yttrium differs distinctly from the behavior of any rareearth. Although the crystal radius of Y3;pl is approximately equalto that of Ho³⁺,differences in the covalence/ionicity of Y³⁺ relative to therare earths leads to aYF²⁺ stability constant that exceeds that of any rare earthelement (REE).