Lanthanum hydroxide

Lanthanum hydroxide can be obtained by adding an alkali such as ammonia to aqueous solutions of lanthanum salts such as lanthanum nitrate. This produces a gel-like precipitate that can then be dried in air. : Alternatively, it can be produced by hydration reaction (addition of water) to lanthanum oxide. : ==Characteristics==

Lanthanum hydroxide does not react much with alkaline substances, however is slightly soluble in acidic solution. : \mathrm{ \xrightarrow [-H_2O]{330\ ^{o}C} \ } LaOOH :2 LaOOH \mathrm{\xrightarrow [-H_2O]{\Delta} \ } Lanthanum hydroxide crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system. Each lanthanum ion in the crystal structure is surrounded by nine hydroxide ions in a tricapped trigonal prism. ==References==