Description
Cerium Chloride Heptahydrate Crystals
A hydrated cerium(III) reagent for synthesis and materials research. This is a heptahydrate, not anhydrous cerium chloride — it is not a drop-in replacement when a method requires anhydrous material.
Cerium Chloride Heptahydrate, also known as cerous chloride heptahydrate, is a hydrated cerium(III) salt. Its water-soluble crystalline form is used in selected organic transformations and as a precursor for cerium-based materials.
Identity & general properties
- Chemical Name : Cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate
- Molecular Formula : CeCl₃·7H₂O
- CAS Number : 18618-55-8
- Molecular Weight : 372.58 g/mol
- Typical Appearance : White to pale-yellow crystals or crystalline solid
- Water Behaviour : Hygroscopic; water-soluble; solutions are acidic
- Grade / Assay / Packing : To be confirmed against the approved specification
General identity and property references only — typical properties are not guaranteed lot specifications. This literature is not a batch COA or a product SDS.
Applications
- Organic synthesis — an established additive in Luche reductions with sodium borohydride, favouring 1,2-reduction of conjugated carbonyl compounds under suitable conditions.
- Ceria and materials preparation — a precursor for cerium oxide and related materials; precursor chemistry can affect the resulting material properties.
- Coating research — reported applications include cerium oxide thin films and corrosion-inhibiting formulations; suitability depends on the substrate and process.
These are literature-supported uses, not validated performance claims for a particular Sontara grade. Sodium borohydride supplies the reducing action in a Luche reduction; cerium(III) chloride is an additive that influences selectivity. Establish suitability in the intended process.
Handling & Storage
Treat as a corrosive chemical: avoid skin/eye contact and dust inhalation. Use appropriate extraction, protective gloves, clothing and eye/face protection. Keep tightly closed in a cool, dry, ventilated area; protect from moisture and prevent environmental release. Reference SDS information warns of severe burns, eye damage and long-lasting aquatic harm. Follow the current product SDS for full controls, storage, incompatibilities, first aid and transport requirements — this summary is not an SDS.
Request a Quotation
Discuss your application with Sontara Organo Industries. Share your target grade, assay basis, impurity limits, quantity, preferred pack and delivery location for specification review and a quotation. Request the approved specification, current SDS and batch COA.
For professional chemical use. Refer to the approved specification and product SDS. No food or medicinal-use approval is implied.
Sources & Technical Reading
- FUJIFILM Wako 035-01832 — Cerium(III) Chloride Heptahydrate: identity and appearance.
- Sigma-Aldrich 228931 — Cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate: water behaviour and materials/coatings applications.
- Babu, R. S. Cerium(III) Chloride Heptahydrate: CeCl3·7H2O. Synlett, 2002(11), 1935–1936. DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-34882.
- Luche, J.-L.; Rodriguez-Hahn, L.; Crabbé, P. Reduction of natural enones in the presence of cerium trichloride. J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1978, 601–602. DOI: 10.1039/C39780000601.
- Barkam, S. et al. Modulating the Catalytic Activity of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles with the Anion of the Precursor Salt. J. Phys. Chem. C, 2017, 121, 20039–20050. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b05725.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific SDS A12947, 21 December 2025 — hazard reference, not a Sontara SDS.
References establish general chemistry and published applications, not Sontara batch quality or application performance. The cited SDS belongs to another supplier and does not replace the current Sontara product SDS.
