Cerium(III) iodide (CeI3) is the compound formed by cerium(III) cations and iodide anions.
Preparation Cerium metal reacts with iodine when heated to form cerium(III) iodide:
It is also formed when cerium reacts with mercury(II) iodide at high temperatures:
Structure Cerium(III) iodide adopts the plutonium(III) bromide crystal structure. It contains 8-coordinate bicapped trigonal prismatic Ce3+ ions.
Uses
Cerium(III) iodide is used as a pharmaceutical intermediate and as a starting material for organocerium compounds.
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