After performing an oxidation experiment, I want to remove the oxide layer completely from the sample without losing any metal. This is required for complete characterization of oxidation process on samples where TG-DTA cannot be carried out. I need some liquid which selectively dissolves metallic Sm or Sm2O3 but not both. HF can be an option but I do not want to use it. Will appreciate if anyone can help.
You can try to dissolve samarium oxide in a low-melting flux, such as sodium tetraborate. If a mixture of samarium and its oxide together with borax is heated in vacuum or under argon to 1100°C, droplets of metallic samarium should form under the layer of oxide melt.
The reverse process (dissolution of metallic samarium with preservation of the oxide) is also theoretically possible. By analogy with aluminum, for example, samarium amalgamation (dissolution of samarium in mercury) is possible. Of course, amalgamation must also be carried out under argon.
By the way, hydrofluoric acid will not help you separate samarium from its oxide in any way, since it will dissolve both of these components.
To Vadim Verlotski 's excellent suggestions I would add that the amalgamation of samarium metal can also probably be done with gallium.
Both mercury and gallium form intermetallic compounds with samarium, so a large excess of the liquid metal may be needed for the extraction.
You Can Separate by Crashing Treatment and Use of Different in Bulk Density Between Samarium Metal and Samarium Oxide.
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