Ytterbium (Yb)
Ytterbium is used in certain steels, lasers, and as a stress gauge in earthquake monitoring.
Properties of Ytterbium
- Atomic number
- 70
- Category
- Lanthanide
- Atomic mass
- 173.05 u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s²
- Melting point
- 1097 K (823.85 °C)
- Boiling point
- 1469 K (1195.85 °C)
- Density
- 6.965 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.1
- Appearance
- Silvery-white metal
- Discovered by
- Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac (1878)
Facts about Ytterbium
- Ytterbium is the third element named after the village of Ytterby!
- Ytterbium clocks are even more accurate than cesium atomic clocks!
- Ytterbium is used to monitor earthquakes — it changes electrical resistance under stress!
- Ytterbium lasers are used in manufacturing and dentistry!