Calorimetric investigations of the MBr−NdBr3 melts (M=Li,Na, K,Cs)

Present work is a part of thermodynamic research program on the MX?LnX₃ system (M=alkali metal,X=Cl, Br andLn=lanthanide). Molar enthalpies of mixing in the LiBr?NdBr₃, NaBr?NdBr₃ and KBr?NdBr₃ liquid binary systems have been determined at temperature 1063 K by direct calorimetry in the whole range of composition. Investigated systems are generally characterized by negative enthalpies of mixing with minimum atX _NdBr3≈0.3–0.4. These enthalpies decrease with decrease of ionic radii of alkali metals. Molar enthalpies of solid-solid and solid-liquid phase transitions of K₃NdBr₆ and Cs₃NdBr₆ have been also determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). K₃NdBr₆ is formed at 689 K from KBr and K₂NdBr₅ with enthalpy of 44.0 kJ·mol^?1 whereas Cs₃NdBr₆ is stable at ambient temperature and undergoes phase transition in the solid state at 731 K with enthalpy of 8.8 kJ·mol^?1. Enthalpies of melting have been also determined.