Complex lanthanide chromate(VI)-phosphates K2R(CrO4)(PO4) (R = Dy-Lu, Y)

The conditions of formation of complex lanthanide chromate(VI)-phosphates K₂R(CrO₄)(PO₄) were found and these compounds were synthesized by solid-state synthesis with variation of the starting compounds, the temperature of synthesis (500–800 °C), and the annealing time (6–200 h). These salts are typical of late lanthanides, R = Dy-Lu, Y. Using lutetium derivatives as examples, it was shown that no similar compounds with lithium or sodium are formed. All the complex chromate(VI)-phosphates obtained decompose under static conditions at temperatures above 550 °C. They are isostructural and crystallize in the monoclinic system. The unit cell parameters for thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium compounds were calculated. It is shown by IR spectroscopy that PO₄ tetrahedra in the crystal lattice of potassium lanthanide chromate(VI)-phosphates are substantially distorted, whereas the CrO₄ tetrahedra retain the regular tetrahedron symmetry (T _d ). Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 622–626, April, 2006.