Ytterbium(II) fluoride

Ytterbium(II) fluoride is a binary inorganic compound of ytterbium and fluorine with the chemical formula YbF2.

Synthesis
Ytterbium(II) fluoride can be obtained by reacting ytterbium(III) fluoride with ytterbium or hydrogen.


 * 2YbF3 + Yb -> 3YbF2
 * 2YbF3 + H2 -> 2YbF2 + 2HF

Physical properties
Ytterbium(II) fluoride is a gray solid and crystallizes in the so-called fluorite type analogous to calcium fluoride with a unit cell a axis of 559.46 pm. In the crystal structure of ytterbium(II) fluoride, the Yb2+ cation is surrounded by eight F− anions in the form of a cube, which is tetrahedrally surrounded by four Yb2+.