Compound of holmium
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Chemical compound
Holmium acetate is the acetate salt of holmium, with a chemical formula of Ho(CH3COO)3 as well as at least one hydrate.
Preparation.
Holmium acetate can be obtained by dissolving holmium oxide in hot acetic acid
 Ho2O3 + 6 CH3CO2H → 2 Ho(O2CH3)3 + 3 H2O 
Dissolving holmium oxide in acetic acid at a pH of 4 will form the tetrahydrate of holmium acetate (Ho2(CH3COO)6·4H2O): The anhydrous material can be obtained by heating the hydrated acetate in acetic acid.
Physical properties and structure.
Holmium acetate hemihepthydate decomposes at 105 °C, forming into a hemihydrate, further decomposing at 135 °C into an anhydride. Further adding heat will form Ho(OH)(CH3COO)2, HoO(CH3COO) then Ho2O2CO3, forming holmium oxide at 590 °C.
According to X-ray crystallography, anhydrous holmium acetate is a coordination polymer. Each Ho(III) center is nine-coordinate, with two bidentate acetate ligands and the remaining sites occupied by oxygens provided by bridging acetate ligands. The lanthanum and praseodymium compounds are isostructural. In a second polymorph, holmium acetate has 8-coordination. A tetrahydrate has also been crystallized.
Applications.
Holmium acetate is used in the manufacture of ceramics, glass, phosphors, metal halide lamps, and as a dopant in garnet lasers. It is also used in nuclear reactors to keep the chain reaction in check.
References.
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External reading.
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