Atomic number:68

Group numbers:3

Period:6

Electronic configuration:[Xe] 4f¹² 6s²

Formal oxidation number:+3

Electronegativities:1.24

Atomic radius / pm:173.4

Relative atomic mass:167.259 ± 0.003

 

Erbium was discovered by Carl Gustaf Mosander (SE) in 1843. Named after Ytterby, a village in Sweden. It is a soft, malleable, silvery metal that reacts slowly with water and dissolves in acids. Metal ignites and burns readily. Erbium is found with other heavier rare earths in xenotime and euxenite. Erbium oxide is used in ceramics to obtain a pink glaze. There are also a few uses in the nuclear industry and as an alloying agent for other exotic metals.

Density / g dm^-3:9066 (298 K)

Molar volume / cm³mol^-1:18.45 (298 K)

Electrical resistivity / μΩcm:107 (20 °C)

Thermal conductivity / W m^-1K^-1:14.3

Melting point / °C:1529

Boiling point / °C:2868

Heat of fusion / kJ mol^-1:17.2

Heat of vaporization / kJ mol^-1:280

Heat of atomization / kJ mol^-1:318.32

1st ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:589.31

2nd ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:1151.08

3rd ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:2194.09

in the atmosphere / ppm:-

in the Earth's crust / ppm:2.2

in the oceans / ppm:0.0000002