Xenotime-type Yb[AsO₄]

Yb[AsO₄], ytterbium(III) oxoarsenate(V), adopts the xenotime structure type. Single crystals were obtained in an attempt to synthesize a compound with nominal composition Yb₃OCl[AsO₃]₂ by fusing a mixture of Yb₂O₃, YbCl₃ and As₂O₃ in a 4:1:3 molar ratio at 1123 K, owing to air-intrusion during the reaction. The structure is built up by chains of edge-sharing [YbO₈] trigonal dodeca­hedra and [AsO₄] tetra­hedra in a primitive rod packing. Yb and As are situated on positions with m2 symmetry, whereas O atoms are located on a mirror plane.