用作实验室试剂、光学玻璃、结构陶瓷、催化剂、电子元件和光电材料。以氯化镍为催化剂，对卤代芳烃的还原脱卤反应进行了研究。氯化镱（III）是使用原甲酸三甲酯生成缩醛的强大催化剂，也用于跟踪动物的消化。 Used as laboratory reagent, optical glasses, structural ceramics, catalysts, electrical components and photo-optical material. Applied with NiCl2 to form a very effective catalyst for the reductive dehalogenation of aryl halides. Ytterbium(III) chloride is a powerful catalyst for the formation of acetals using trimethyl orthoformate and also used to track digestion in animals.