Nitrates/Sulphides

Ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) is the inorganic compound with the formula (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6. This orange-red, water-soluble cerium salt is a specialized oxidizing agent in organic synthesis and a standard oxidant in quantitative analysis. In organic synthesis, CAN is useful as an oxidant for many functional groups (alcohols, phenols, and ethers) as well as C–H bonds, especially those that are benzylic. Alkenes undergo dinitroxylation, although the outcome is solvent-dependent. Quinones are produced from catechols and hydroquinones and even nitroalkanes are oxidized.

Cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate ((NH4)2Ce(NO3)6) is a one-electron oxidizing agent that is used for oxidative addition reactions of electrophilic radicals to alkenes, enabling intermolecular and intramolecular carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formation. CAN also oxidize secondary alcohols into ketones and benzylic alcohols into aldehydes.

Cerium nitrate hexahydrate, with the formula Ce(NO3)3.6H2O is the most common nitrate of cerium(III). It is a component in a burn treatment cream that also includes silver sulphadiazine. Concentrations used are 0.5 M for the cerium nitrate. For very serious burns it reduces the death rate. At 150 °C the hexahydrate loses water of crystallization to make a trihydrate, which itself decomposes above 200 °C. Cerous nitrate hexahydrate has pinacoidal triclinic crystals.

Cerium nitrate has a potent antiseptic effect in human burn wounds, especially against gram negative bacteria and fungi. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered from the wounds infrequently and never predominated. No patient treated with cerium developed a necrotizing wound infection.

Cerium Nitrate Hexahydrate is a highly water soluble crystalline Cerium source for uses compatible with nitrates and lower (acidic) pH. All metallic nitrates are inorganic salts of a given metal cation and the nitrate anion. Nitrate materials are also oxidizing agents. When mixed with hydrocarbons, nitrate compounds can form a flammable mixture.