Samarium (Sm)
Samarium is used in powerful magnets and in the treatment of certain cancers.
Properties of Samarium
- Atomic number
- 62
- Category
- Lanthanide
- Atomic mass
- 150.36 u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f⁶ 6s²
- Melting point
- 1345 K (1071.85 °C)
- Boiling point
- 2067 K (1793.85 °C)
- Density
- 7.52 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.17
- Appearance
- Silvery-white metal
- Discovered by
- Lecoq de Boisbaudran (1879)
Facts about Samarium
- Samarium-cobalt magnets can work at very high temperatures where other magnets fail!
- Samarium is named after the mineral samarskite, which was named after a Russian mine official!
- Samarium is used in cancer treatment to target bone tumors!
- Samarium magnets were the strongest magnets before neodymium magnets were invented!