Er
Erbium
Atomic number: 68Mass: 167.259 uCategory: Lanthanide
About Erbium
Erbium is a silvery-white solid metal when artificially isolated. It is used mostly in phosphors, glass colouring, and in fibre optic telecommunications. Its rose-pink spectral emission is characteristic.
Properties
Period
6
Group
N/A
Block
F
Category
Lanthanide
Electronegativity
1.24 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
589.3 kJ/mol
Melting Point
1802 K (1529°C)
Boiling Point
3141 K (2868°C)
Density
9.066 g/cm³
Oxidation States
+3
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹² 5s² 5p⁶ 6s²
[Xe] 4f¹² 6s²
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:18e⁻
Shell 4:30e⁻
Shell 5:8e⁻
Shell 6:2e⁻
Real-World Uses
Fibre optic amplifiers (internet)
Infrared lasers (surgery)
Pink glass colouring
Metallurgical alloys
Nuclear technology
Fun Fact
The internet runs on erbium! Erbium-doped fibre amplifiers boost light signals in undersea internet cables spanning the entire ocean.