Quaternary phase

In materials chemistry, a quaternary phase is chemical compound containing four elements. Some compounds can be molecular or ionic, examples being chlorodifluoromethane (CHClF₂) sodium bicarbonate (NaCO₃H). More typically quaternary phase refers to extended solids. A famous example are the yttrium barium copper oxide superconductors.[1]

YBa₂Cu₃O₇, abbreviated YBCO is a famous quaternary phase. It features four elements: Y, Ba, Cu, and O.

See also

• Binary compound
• Ternary compound

References

1. Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.