Erbium
68
Er
Group
n/a
Period
6
Block
f
Protons
Electrons
Neutrons
68
68
99
General Properties
Atomic Number
68
Atomic Weight
167.259
Mass Number
167
Category
Lanthanides
Color
Silver
Radioactive
No
Erbium was named after Ytterby, a town in Sweden
Crystal Structure
Simple Hexagonal
History
Erbium was discovered in 1843 by Swedish chemist Carl Gustaf Mosander, who detected it as an impurity in yttria.
Using ammonium hydroxide he precipitated fractions of different basicity from yttria.
In these fractions he found that the fraction that contained the pink color was erbium.
Using ammonium hydroxide he precipitated fractions of different basicity from yttria.
In these fractions he found that the fraction that contained the pink color was erbium.
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 30, 8, 2
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f12 6s2
The highest concentration of erbium in humans is in the bones
Physical Properties
Phase
Solid
Density
9.066 g/cm3
Melting Point
1802.15 K | 1529 °C | 2784.2 °F
Boiling Point
3141.15 K | 2868 °C | 5194.4 °F
Heat of Fusion
19.9 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization
285 kJ/mol
Specific Heat Capacity
0.168 J/g·K
Abundance in Earth's crust
0.0003%
Abundance in Universe
2×10-7%
CAS Number
7440-52-0
PubChem CID Number
23980
Atomic Properties
Atomic Radius
176 pm
Covalent Radius
189 pm
Electronegativity
1.24 (Pauling scale)
Ionization Potential
6.1077 eV
Atomic Volume
18.4 cm3/mol
Thermal Conductivity
0.143 W/cm·K
Oxidation States
3
Applications
Erbium is used in photographic filters to absorb infrared light.
Erbium oxide gives a pink color and has been used as a colorant in glasses and porcelain enamel glazes.
It is also used in nuclear technology in neutron-absorbing control rods.
Erbium is used in alloys especially with vanadium to decrease the hardness of metals.
Erbium oxide gives a pink color and has been used as a colorant in glasses and porcelain enamel glazes.
It is also used in nuclear technology in neutron-absorbing control rods.
Erbium is used in alloys especially with vanadium to decrease the hardness of metals.
Erbium is considered to be moderately toxic
Isotopes
Stable Isotopes
162Er, 164Er, 166Er, 167Er, 168Er, 170ErUnstable Isotopes
143Er, 144Er, 145Er, 146Er, 147Er, 148Er, 149Er, 150Er, 151Er, 152Er, 153Er, 154Er, 155Er, 156Er, 157Er, 158Er, 159Er, 160Er, 161Er, 163Er, 165Er, 169Er, 171Er, 172Er, 173Er, 174Er, 175Er, 176Er, 177Er