Atomic number:64

Group numbers:3

Period:6

Electronic configuration:[Xe] 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6s²

Formal oxidation number:+3

Electronegativities:1.2

Atomic radius / pm:178.7

Relative atomic mass:157.25 ± 0.03

 

Gadolinium was discovered by Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac (CH) in 1880. Named after the mineral gadolinite, named for J. Gadolin, a Finnish chemist and mineralogist. It is a soft, ductile, silvery-white metal that reacts slowly with water and oxygen. Gadolinium dissolves in acids. The metal ignites and burns readily. Gadolinium is found with other rare earths in gadolinite and monazite sand. It is used in steel alloying agents and the manufacture of electronic components.

Density / g dm^-3:7900.4 (298 K)

Molar volume / cm³mol^-1:19.90 (298 K)

Electrical resistivity / μΩcm:140.5 (20 °C)

Thermal conductivity / W m^-1K^-1:10.6

Melting point / °C:1313

Boiling point / °C:3273

Heat of fusion / kJ mol^-1:15.5

Heat of vaporization / kJ mol^-1:301

Heat of atomization / kJ mol^-1:398.94

1st ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:593.40

2nd ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:1166.52

3rd ionization energy / kJ mol^-1:1990.51

in the atmosphere / ppm:-

in the Earth's crust / ppm:3.3

in the oceans / ppm:0.0000002