Lutetium(III) chloride or lutetium trichloride is the chemical compound composed of lutetium and chlorine with the formula LuCl3. It forms hygroscopic white monoclinic crystals and also a hygroscopic hexahydrate LuCl3·6H2O. Anhydrous lutetium(III) chloride has the YCl3 (AlCl3) layer structure with octahedral lutetium ions.Wells A.F. (1984) Structural Inorganic Chemistry 5th edition Oxford Science Publications Its isotopologue lutetium (177Lu) chloride is used as a radioactive tracer for diagnosis and/or treatment in anti-cancer therapies.
Reactions Pure lutetium metal can be produced from lutetium(III) chloride by heating it together with elemental calcium: 2 LuCl3 + 3 Ca → 2 Lu + 3 CaCl2
See also
Lutetium (177Lu) chloride
References