Mechanism of thermal decomposition of yttrium nitrate hexahydrate, Y(NO)·6HO and modeling of intermediate oxynitrates.

The thermal decomposition of yttrium nitrate hexahydrate Y(NO)·6HO is a complex condensation process generating a tetramer arrangement YO(NO) formed by alternating yttrium and oxygen atoms. The anions NO attach themselves to the yttrium atoms. The tetramer gradually loses NO and, through the formation of YO(NO), is transformed into yttrium oxide. The bond lengths and bond angles of intermediate oxynitrates calculated using the molecular mechanics method rendered data compatible with the results of X-ray diffraction for related compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]