Ytterbium (Yb)
Lanthanide · f-block · period 6
Soft, malleable, bright silvery metal that slowly oxidises.
Ytterbium (symbol Yb) is chemical element number 70, a lanthanide in the lanthanide series (f-block), period 6 of the periodic table. Its standard atomic weight is 173.05 and its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f14 6s2. At room temperature it is a solid. The last of the four elements named after the quarry at Ytterby.
Properties
| Atomic number | 70 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 173.05 |
| Category | Lanthanide |
| Block | f-block |
| Group · Period | f-block series · 6 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f14 6s2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 1097 K |
| Boiling point | 1469 K |
| Density | 6.9 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.1 |
| Radioactive | No |
| Origin | primordial |
| Discovered | 1878 · Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac |
Key facts about Ytterbium
- The last of the four elements named after the quarry at Ytterby.
- Its electrical resistance jumps when squeezed, so it is used in stress gauges for earthquakes and explosions.
- Ytterbium atomic clocks are among the most accurate ever built.
- Ytterbium fibre lasers deliver very high power for industrial cutting and welding.
What Ytterbium is used for
Next-generation atomic clocks, high-power fibre lasers, stress and pressure gauges, stainless-steel refining.
Where it sits in the periodic table
Ytterbium is in the lanthanide series, period 6, of the f-block. Its electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 6s2 means its outermost shell holds 2 electrons, which is what places it here and explains much of its chemistry. See Ytterbium on the interactive table →
Ytterbium — frequently asked questions
What is Ytterbium used for?
Next-generation atomic clocks, high-power fibre lasers, stress and pressure gauges, stainless-steel refining.
Is Ytterbium radioactive?
No. Ytterbium has at least one stable isotope and is not radioactive.
What is the electron configuration of Ytterbium?
Ytterbium has the electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 6s2, which is 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2 electrons per shell.
What group and period is Ytterbium in?
Ytterbium is in the lanthanide series (f-block), period 6, in the f-block. Its outer shell holds 2 electrons.
Who discovered Ytterbium?
Ytterbium was discovered in 1878 by Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac.