Dy
Dysprosium
Atomic number: 66Mass: 162.5 uCategory: Lanthanide
About Dysprosium
Dysprosium is a soft, silvery metal. Its name comes from the Greek 'dysprositos' meaning hard to get. It has a high magnetic susceptibility and is added to neodymium magnets to keep them strong at higher temperatures.
Properties
Period
6
Group
N/A
Block
F
Category
Lanthanide
Electronegativity
1.22 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
573 kJ/mol
Melting Point
1680 K (1407°C)
Boiling Point
2840 K (2567°C)
Density
8.55 g/cm³
Oxidation States
+3
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s²
[Xe] 4f¹⁰ 6s²
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:18e⁻
Shell 4:28e⁻
Shell 5:8e⁻
Shell 6:2e⁻
Real-World Uses
Electric vehicle motors
Wind turbines
Nuclear reactor control rods
Data storage
Lasers
Fun Fact
Electric cars and wind turbines need dysprosium in their magnets to keep working in heat — it's a hidden hero of the green energy revolution!