Gadolinium (Gd)
Gadolinium is used as a contrast agent in MRI scans and has unusual magnetic properties.
Properties of Gadolinium
- Atomic number
- 64
- Category
- Lanthanide
- Atomic mass
- 157.25 u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6s²
- Melting point
- 1585 K (1311.85 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3546 K (3272.85 °C)
- Density
- 7.895 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.2
- Appearance
- Silvery-white metal
- Discovered by
- Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac (1880)
Facts about Gadolinium
- Gadolinium is injected into patients to make MRI scans clearer!
- Gadolinium is named after Johan Gadolin, the first person to study rare earth elements!
- Gadolinium is strongly magnetic at room temperature!
- Gadolinium is used in nuclear reactor shielding!