Protactinyl nitrate

Protactinyl nitrate
Names
Other names
  • Protactinium(V) oxynitrate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
  • InChI=1S/3NO3.O.Pa/c3*2-1(3)4;;/q3*-1;;+3
    Key: HPGAUFDFQPEWQU-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [Pa](O[N+]([O-])=O)(O[N+]([O-])=O)(O[N+]([O-])=O)=O
Properties
PaO(NO3)3
Molar mass 433.05 g/mol
Appearance White solid[1]
Melting point 400 °C (752 °F; 673 K) (decomposition)
Hydrolysis[1]
Solubility Soluble in fuming nitric acid[1]
Related compounds
Other cations
 Uranyl nitrate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Protactinyl nitrate, protactinium(V) oxynitrate, or erroneously known as protactinium nitrate, is a radioactive chemical compound with the formula PaO(NO3)3·xH2O (1.5 ≤ x ≤ 4). It is a white solid that readily hydrolyzes to protactinium(V) oxide in moist air. This compound is a common commercial source of protactinium.[2]

Preparation and decomposition

Protactinyl nitrate was first prepared in 1966 by reacting protactinium(V) chloride or protactinium(V) bromide with fuming nitric acid. Lower concentrations of nitric acid cannot be used, due to the hydrolysis of the compound.[1]

Protactinyl nitrate decomposes at 400 °C to protactinium(V) oxide.[2][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e D. Brown; P. J. Jones (1966). "Quinquevalent protactinium, niobium, and tantalum nitrates and nitrato-complexes". Journal of the Chemical Society A: Inorganic, Physical, Theoretical: 733–737. doi:10.1039/J19660000733.
  2. ^ a b R. Grossmann; H.J. Maier; J. Szerypo; H.U. Friebel (2008). "Preparation of 231Pa targets". Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 590 (1–3): 122–125. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2008.02.084.