Dysprosium (Dy)
Lanthanide
Dysprosium's name means “hard to get” — fitting for a metal now critical to green technology. Added to neodymium magnets, it keeps electric-vehicle motors and wind turbines magnetised at high operating temperatures.
Position on the periodic table
Atomic properties
| Atomic number | 66 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 162.5 amu |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f10 |
| Noble gas shorthand | [Xe] 4f10 6s2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 28, 8, 2 |
| Valence electrons (outer shell) | 2 |
| Common oxidation states | +3 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.22 |
| Covalent radius (approx.) | 192 pm |
| First ionization energy | 573 kJ/mol |
| Electron affinity | 34 kJ/mol |
Physical properties
| State at 25 °C | Solid |
|---|---|
| Density | 8.54 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1406.8 °C (1680 K) |
| Boiling point | 2566.8 °C (2840 K) |
| Appearance | silvery white |
| Radioactive | No |
| Origin | Occurs naturally |
Electron configuration of dysprosium
Dysprosium's ground-state electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f10, usually shortened to [Xe] 4f10 6s2. Its electrons occupy 6 shells (2, 8, 18, 28, 8, 2), placing it in period 6 of the f-block. Explore it interactively in the electron configuration calculator.
Uses of dysprosium
- Heat-resistant additions to NdFeB magnets
- Reactor control rods
- Magnetostrictive alloys
- Halide lamps
Biological role: None known.
Occurrence: Mainly from ion-adsorption clays in southern China.
Common compounds of dysprosium
Dy2O3
Dysprosium(III) oxide
History and discovery
Discovered: 1886 — Lecoq de Boisbaudran. Name origin: From Greek dysprositos, “hard to obtain”.
Paul-Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran isolated dysprosium in 1886 after dozens of painstaking separations.
Safety notes
Low toxicity; dust and powder are mildly hazardous.
Educational context only — always follow your school's laboratory rules and never handle chemicals without proper supervision. See our disclaimer.
Practice questions
Quick practice: Dysprosium
1. What is the chemical symbol of Dysprosium?
2. What is the atomic number of Dysprosium?
3. Which category does Dysprosium belong to?
4. What is the state of Dysprosium at room temperature?
5. Which period of the periodic table is Dysprosium in?
Dysprosium FAQs
What is the atomic number of dysprosium?
Dysprosium's atomic number is 66 — every dysprosium atom has 66 protons in its nucleus.
What is the symbol for dysprosium?
Dy. From Greek dysprositos, “hard to obtain”.
Is dysprosium a metal, nonmetal, or metalloid?
Dysprosium is classified as a lanthanide.
What state is dysprosium at room temperature?
At about 25 °C, dysprosium is a solid. It melts at 1406.8 °C.
What is dysprosium used for?
Key uses include: heat-resistant additions to ndfeb magnets; reactor control rods; magnetostrictive alloys.
Related elements
Keep working with this element
Spotted an error? Report a correction · Data sources