Characteristic

Cerium(III) chloride (CeCl₃), also known as cerous chloride or cerium trichloride, is a compound of cerium and chlorine. It is a white hygroscopic solid.

Chemical formula：CeCl₃

Molar mass： 246.48 g/mol (anhydrous)  372.58 g/mol (heptahydrate)

Appearance： fine white powder

Density： 3.97 g/cm³

Melting point： 817 °C (1,503 °F; 1,090 K) (anhydrous)  90 °C (heptahydrate, decomposes)

Boiling point： 1,727 °C (3,141 °F; 2,000 K)

Solubility in water：100 g/100 ml

Solubility： soluble in alcohol

Magnetic susceptibility (χ)：+2490.0·10⁻⁶ cm³/mol

Crystal structure：hexagonal

Application

'Cerium(III) chloride' can be used as a starting point for the preparation of other cerium salts, such as the Lewis acid, cerium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate, used for Friedel-Crafts acylations. It is also used itself as a Lewis acid, for example as a catalyst in Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions.

CeCl3_MSDS.pdf