Lanthanum oxalate is an inorganic compound, a salt of lanthanum metal and oxalic acid with the chemical formula La
2(C
2O
4)
3.
Synthesis
Reaction of soluble lanthanum nitrate with an excess of oxalic acid:
- 2 La(NO3)3 3 (COOH)2 → La2(C2O4)3 6 HNO3
Also, a reaction of lanthanum chloride with oxalic acid:
- 2 LaCl3 3 H2C2O4 → La2(C2O4)3 6 HCl
Physical properties
Lanthanum(III) oxalate forms colorless crystals that are poorly soluble in water.
The compound forms various crystallohydrates La
2(C
2O
4)
3•nH
2O, where n = 1, 2, 3, 7, and 10.
The crystallohydrates decompose when heated.
References
