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Promethium(III) chloride

Promethium(III) chloride is a chemical compound of promethium and chlorine with the formula PmCl3. It is an ionic, water soluble, crystalline salt that glows in the dark with a pale blue or green light due to promethium's intense radioactivity.


Column 1Column 2
Glowing powder mixture of promethium(III) chloride and zinc sulfide
Crystal structure
Other names
Promethium chloride; Promethium trichloride
CAS Number.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}13779-10-7
3D model (JSmol)Interactive image
ChemSpider14296263
ECHA InfoCard100.034.004
EC Number237-420-0
PubChem CID14475784
InChI
InChI=1S/3ClH.Pm/h3*1H;/q;;;+3/p-3Key: KAKNBYVEBALXNX-UHFFFAOYSA-K
SMILES
[Cl-].[Cl-].[Cl-].[Pm+3]
Chemical formulaCl3Pm
Molar mass251 g·mol−1
Appearancepurple solidyellow solid
Density4.19 g/cm3 (calc., XRD)
Melting point655 °C (1,211 °F; 928 K)
Crystal structureTrigonal, hP8
Space groupP63/m, No. 176
Other anionsPromethium(III) oxide
Other cationsNeodymium(III) chloride, Samarium(III) chloride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Infobox references | |

Promethium(III) chloride is a chemical compound of promethium and chlorine with the formula PmCl3. It is an ionic, water soluble, crystalline salt that glows in the dark with a pale blue or green light due to promethium's intense radioactivity.

Promethium(III) chloride is obtained from promethium(III) oxide by heating it in a stream of dry HCl at 580 °C.

Promethium(III) chloride is a purple solid with a melting point of 655 °C. It crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system (NdCl3 type) with the lattice parameters a = 739 pm and c = 421 pm with two formula units per unit cell and thus a calculated density of 4.19 g·cm−3. When PmCl3 is heated in the presence of H2O, the pale pink colored promethium(III) oxychloride (PmOCl) is obtained.

Promethium(III) chloride (with 147Pm) has been used to generate long-lasting glow in signal lights and buttons. This application relied on the unstable nature of promethium, which emitted beta radiation (electrons) with a half-life of several years. The electrons were absorbed by a phosphor, generating visible glow. Unlike many other radioactive nuclides, promethium-147 does not emit alpha particles that would degrade the phosphor.

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