Abstract
The hexahydrate of praseodymium nitrate hexahydrate Pr(NO3)3·6H2O does not show phase transitions in the range of 233–328 K when the compound melts in its own water of crystallization. It is suggested that the thermal decomposition is a complex step-wise process, which involves the condensation of 6 mol of the initial monomer Pr(NO3)3·6H2O into a cyclic cluster 6[Pr(NO3)3·6H2O]. This hexamer gradually loses water and nitric acid, and a series of intermediate amorphous oxynitrates is formed. The removal of 68% HNO3–32% H2O azeotrope is essentially a continuous process occurring in the liquid phase. At higher temperatures, oxynitrates undergo thermal degradation and lose water, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen, leaving behind normal praseodymium oxide Pr2O3. The latter absorbs approximately 1 mol of atomic oxygen from N2O5 disproportionation, giving rise to the non-stoichiometric higher oxide Pr2O3.33. All mass losses are satisfactorily accounted for under the proposed scheme of thermal decomposition.
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