Erbium

Erbium Element Properties

f67
Ho
Holmium
f68
Er
Erbium
f69
Tm
Thulium
General
NameErbium
SymbolEr
Number68
Group NumberNA
GroupRare Earth, Lanthanides
Blockf
Density9.05 g/cm3
Atomic Weight167.26 g/mol
Atomic Volume18.4 cm3/mol
Discover1843


States
StateSolid
Melting Point1802 K
Boiling Point3141 K
Triple PointNil
Critical PointNil
Heat of Fusion19.90 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization280 kJ/mol


Energies
First Ionization Energy588.7 kJ/mole
Second Ionization Energy1151 kJ/mole
Third Ionization Energy2194 kJ/mole
Electronegativity1.24
Electron Affinity50 kJ/mole
Specific Heat0.17 J/gK
Heat Atomization317 kJ/mole atoms


Oxidation and Electrons
Shells2,8,18,30,8,2
Electron Configuration[Xe] 4f12 6s2
Minimum Oxidation Number0
Maximum Oxidation Number3
Minimum Common Oxidation Number0
Maximum Common Oxidation Number3


Appearance and Characteristics
Crystal Structurehexagonal
CharacteristicsNone
Colorsilvery-white
Usesalloys, photogr. filter
HardnessNil
ToxicityNone


Reactions
Reaction with Airvigorous, =>Er2O3
Reaction with 6M HClmild, =>H2, ErCl3
Reaction with 15M HNO3mild, =>Er(NO3)3
Reaction with 6M NaOHNone


Other Forms
Number of Isotopes6
HydrideErH2 ErH3
OxideEr2O3
ChlorideErCl3


Radius
Atomic Radius176 pm
Ionic Radius (1+ ion)Nil
Ionic Radius (1- ion)Nil
Ionic Radius (2+ ion)Nil
Ionic Radius (2- ion)Nil
Ionic Radius (3+ ion)103 pm


Conductivity
Thermal Conductivity14.5 J/m-sec-deg
Electrical Conductivity14.1 1/mohm-cm
Polarizability22.7 A3


Abundance
SourceMonazite(phosphate),bastnaesite
Relation Abundance Solar System-0.601 log
Abundance Earth's Crust0.4 log


f67
Ho
Holmium
f68
Er
Erbium
f69
Tm
Thulium