What is gadolinium oxide?
Gadolinium oxide usually refers to gadolinium(III) oxide, Gd₂O₃, also called gadolinia or gadolinium sesquioxide. It is a rare-earth oxide commonly supplied as a white powder.
What is the CAS number for Gd₂O₃?
The commonly referenced CAS Registry Number for gadolinium(III) oxide is 12064-62-9.
What is the molecular weight of Gd₂O₃?
The molecular weight is 362.50 g/mol.
Is gadolinia the same as gadolinium oxide?
Yes. “Gadolinia” is a common name for Gd₂O₃.
Why is gadolinium used for neutron shielding?
The isotopes ¹⁵⁵Gd and ¹⁵⁷Gd have exceptionally large thermal-neutron absorption cross sections, so Gd-containing phases such as Gd₂O₃ can be useful neutron absorbers.
Is Gd₂O₃ an MRI contrast agent?
Bulk or industrial Gd₂O₃ powder is not a clinically approved MRI contrast agent. Surface-modified Gd₂O₃ nanoparticles are an active research topic, while clinical gadolinium contrast agents are generally chelated molecular compounds.
What do 3N, 4N and 5N gadolinium oxide mean?
They usually mean 99.9%, 99.99% and 99.999% nominal purity, respectively. Always ask whether purity is reported on an REO basis and request the individual impurity table.
What particle-size data should I request?
For micron powders, request D10, D50 and D90 plus the test method. For nano grades, also consider BET surface area, microscopy and the distinction between primary particles and agglomerates.
What is the density of gadolinium oxide?
A representative supplier value for Gd₂O₃ is about 7.407 g/cm³. Use a source appropriate to the exact phase and grade for engineering calculations.
What is the melting point of Gd₂O₃?
Representative supplier technical data list a melting point around 2,420 °C.
How should gadolinium oxide be stored?
Keep it in a tightly closed, correctly labeled container in a dry area and follow the current supplier SDS. High-purity grades also require contamination control.
What documents should come with a commercial lot?
At minimum, request a lot-specific certificate of analysis and a current safety data sheet. For demanding applications, also request a specification sheet, particle-size data and relevant analytical methods.