Topics Covered
Chemical Formula
Background
Basic Information
Occurrence
Isotopes
Production
Health Aspects
Key Properties
Applications
Chemical Formula
Yb
Background
A French chemist Jean-Charles-Galissard de Marignac discovered the element named ytterbium. Erbium nitrate was heated by de Marignac until it totally decomposed, followed by extraction of the residue from which two oxides were obtained. One oxide was called erbium oxide and the other was named ytterbium.
A very small amount of impure ytterbium metal was made in 1937, formed by heating potassium and ytterbium chloride. It was only in 1953 that a pure sample of ytterbium metal was obtained.
Basic Information
|
Name |
Ytterbium |
|
Symbol |
Yb |
|
Atomic number |
70 |
|
Atomic weight |
173.054 |
|
Standard state |
Solid at 298 K |
|
CAS Registry ID |
7440-64-4 |
|
Group name |
Lanthanoid |
|
Period in periodic table |
6 |
|
Block in periodic table |
f-block |
|
Color |
Silvery white |
|
Classification |
Metallic |
|
Melting point |
1092 K (819°C or 1506°F) |
|
Boiling point |
1469 K (1196°C or 2185°F) |
|
Density |
6.90 g/cm3 |
|
Phase at room temperature |
Solid |
Occurrence
Ytterbium occurs in the phosphate mineral monazite, at about 0.03 percent.
Ytterbium (version 2) - Periodic Table of Videos
Isotopes
Ytterbium has seven naturally occurring isotopes that include ytterbium-176, ytterbium-168, ytterbium-170, ytterbium-172, ytterbium-171, ytterbium-173 and ytterbium-174. Ytterbium also has ten radioactive isotopes. Ytterbium-169 is one such radioactive isotope that gives off gamma radiation similar to X rays.
Production
Ytterbium is produced from its ores by reaction with lanthanum metal. For example, the element is extracted by solvent extraction and ion exchange from monazite.
Key Properties
The key properties of ytterbium include:
-
It is has a shiny and bright surface
-
It is ductile and malleable
-
It reacts slowly with water
-
It reacts in a rapid manner with liquid ammonia and acids
-
It is a lot more reactive in comparison with other lanthanide elements.
Applications
Ytterbium is useful in the following applications:
-
It is used as a doping agent in fiber optic cable
-
It is used in superconductors
-
It is used in making lasers
-
Ytterbium compounds are used as catalysts in the organic chemical industry
-
Ytterbium fiber laser amplifiers are used in marking and engraving
-
A small amount of ytterbium is used to add strength to specific steel types.
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