Holmium oxide
Properties
Chemical formula: Ho₂O₃
Name: Holmium(III) oxide / holmium oxide
CAS No.: 12055-62-8
Molar mass: 377.86 g/mol
Density: 8.41 g/cm³
Melting point: approx. 2415 °C
Color: yellowish to pale pink-beige, depending on the light source
Form: fine powder
Solubility: insoluble in water, soluble in hot mineral acids
Holmium oxide (Ho₂O₃), also known as holmium(III) oxide, is an inorganic compound belonging to the group of rare-earth oxides. Depending on the light source, the fine powder appears characteristically yellowish to slightly pink-beige and offers exceptionally high thermal stability.
Holmium oxide is insoluble in water but dissolves readily in hot mineral acids, forming the corresponding holmium(III) salts. With a melting point of approximately 2415 °C, the material remains chemically and physically stable under demanding high-temperature conditions.
One of the most important characteristics of Ho₂O₃ is its pronounced magnetic behavior. Ho³⁺ ions have a magnetic moment of approximately 10.6 Bohr magnetons, giving holmium compounds particularly strong paramagnetic properties. Holmium oxide also exhibits very sharp and narrow absorption bands in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions.
Due to its precisely defined optical absorption lines, holmium oxide glass filters are widely used in spectroscopy as wavelength references for the calibration and verification of spectrophotometers. Ho₂O₃ is typically produced by thermal calcination of holmium oxalate or holmium hydroxide at elevated temperatures.
The element holmium is used both as holmium metal and in the form of specialized compounds. Holmium and its compounds are relevant for laser technology, spectroscopy, nuclear applications, specialty glass, ceramics and magnetic materials. Holmium oxide is particularly important for Ho:YAG lasers and optical calibration standards.
Would you like to buy holmium oxide? Auremo offers holmium oxide, holmium metal and other rare metals. The holmium price, holmium metal price and holmium price per kg primarily refer to metallic holmium, while the price of holmium oxide depends on purity, particle size, order quantity and delivery conditions.
Advantages
• Particularly strong paramagnetic properties
• High magnetic moment of Ho³⁺ ions
• Sharp and precisely defined optical absorption bands
• Suitable for spectrophotometer calibration
• Extremely high thermal stability
• Stability at temperatures above 2400 °C
• High thermal-neutron absorption capability of holmium
• Suitable for optical, laser and high-performance ceramic materials
Applications
• Laser technology
• Ho:YAG lasers for medical applications and materials processing
• Spectroscopy and optics
• Calibration filters for spectrophotometers
• Nuclear technology
• Neutron-absorbing and control materials
• Specialty glass and optical materials
• Yellow coloring agent for glass and ceramics
• High-performance technical ceramics
• Specialty magnetic materials
• Production of holmium compounds
• Materials science and research
Auremo offers a wide range of holmium, holmium oxide and other rare metals at competitive prices. If you have any questions about Ho₂O₃, holmium metal, available purity grades, particle sizes or delivery conditions, please contact us directly.
