CeF3 crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group. There are two inequivalent Ce sites. In the first Ce site, Ce(1) is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to one F(2), one F(5), two equivalent F(3), two equivalent F(4), and three equivalent F(1) atoms. In the second Ce site, Ce(2) is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to one F(5), two equivalent F(3), two equivalent F(4), and four equivalent F(2) atoms. There are five inequivalent F sites. In the first F site, F(1) is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Ce(1) atoms. In the second F site, F(2) is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to one Ce(1) and two equivalent Ce(2) atoms. In the third F site, F(3) is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to one Ce(2) and two equivalent Ce(1) atoms. In the fourth F site, F(4) is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to one Ce(2) and two equivalent Ce(1) atoms. In the fifth F site, F(5) is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to one Ce(2) and two equivalent Ce(1) atoms.
CeF3 crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group. There are two inequivalent Ce sites. In the first Ce site, Ce(1) is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to one F(2), one F(5), two equivalent F(3), two equivalent F(4), and three equivalent F(1) atoms. The Ce(1)-F(2) bond length is 2.44 Å. The Ce(1)-F(5) bond length is 2.43 Å. There is one shorter (2.41 Å) and one longer (2.59 Å) Ce(1)-F(3) bond length. Both Ce(1)-F(4) bond lengths are 2.38 Å. There are a spread of Ce(1)-F(1) bond distances ranging from 2.43-2.60 Å. In the second Ce site, Ce(2) is bonded in a 9-coordinate geometry to one F(5), two equivalent F(3), two equivalent F(4), and four equivalent F(2) atoms. The Ce(2)-F(5) bond length is 2.42 Å. Both Ce(2)-F(3) bond lengths are 2.44 Å. Both Ce(2)-F(4) bond lengths are 2.38 Å. There are two shorter (2.42 Å) and two longer (2.58 Å) Ce(2)-F(2) bond lengths. There are five inequivalent F sites. In the first F site, F(1) is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to three equivalent Ce(1) atoms. In the second F site, F(2) is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to one Ce(1) and two equivalent Ce(2) atoms. In the third F site, F(3) is bonded in a 3-coordinate geometry to one Ce(2) and two equivalent Ce(1) atoms. In the fourth F site, F(4) is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to one Ce(2) and two equivalent Ce(1) atoms. In the fifth F site, F(5) is bonded in a trigonal planar geometry to one Ce(2) and two equivalent Ce(1) atoms.