Yb
Ytterbium
Atomic number: 70Mass: 173.045 uCategory: Lanthanide
About Ytterbium
Ytterbium is a soft, malleable and ductile chemical element that displays a bright silvery lustre when pure. It is a rare earth element. Ytterbium has potential applications in atomic clocks more accurate than caesium clocks.
Properties
Period
6
Group
N/A
Block
F
Category
Lanthanide
Electronegativity
1.10 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
603.4 kJ/mol
Melting Point
1097 K (824°C)
Boiling Point
1469 K (1196°C)
Density
6.9 g/cm³
Oxidation States
+2, +3
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s²
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s²
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:18e⁻
Shell 4:32e⁻
Shell 5:8e⁻
Shell 6:2e⁻
Real-World Uses
Atomic clocks
Stainless steel improvement
Cancer radiotherapy
Fibre optic amplifiers
Ground movement sensors
Fun Fact
Ytterbium atoms make the most accurate clocks ever made — losing or gaining less than one second in 15 billion years!