Ytterbium (Yb)
Lanthanide
Ytterbium is a versatile rare earth used in the world's most precise atomic clocks — accurate to a second over the age of the universe — and in high-power fibre lasers that cut and weld metal.
Position on the periodic table
Atomic properties
| Atomic number | 70 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 173.045 amu |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 |
| Noble gas shorthand | [Xe] 4f14 6s2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2 |
| Valence electrons (outer shell) | 2 |
| Common oxidation states | +3, +2 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.1 |
| Covalent radius (approx.) | 187 pm |
| First ionization energy | 603.4 kJ/mol |
| Electron affinity | -1.9 kJ/mol |
Physical properties
| State at 25 °C | Solid |
|---|---|
| Density | 6.9 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 823.85 °C (1097 K) |
| Boiling point | 1195.8 °C (1469 K) |
| Appearance | Not available |
| Radioactive | No |
| Origin | Occurs naturally |
Electron configuration of ytterbium
Ytterbium's ground-state electron configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14, usually shortened to [Xe] 4f14 6s2. Its electrons occupy 6 shells (2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2), placing it in period 6 of the f-block. Explore it interactively in the electron configuration calculator.
Uses of ytterbium
- Optical atomic clocks
- High-power fibre lasers
- Stress gauges in earthquake monitoring
- Stainless steel grain refinement
Biological role: None known.
Occurrence: From monazite and ion-adsorption clays.
Common compounds of ytterbium
Yb2O3
Ytterbium(III) oxide
History and discovery
Discovered: 1878 — Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac. Name origin: Named after Ytterby, Sweden — the fourth element from the famous quarry.
Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac identified ytterbium in 1878 within erbium earth.
Safety notes
Low toxicity; powders irritate skin and eyes.
Educational context only — always follow your school's laboratory rules and never handle chemicals without proper supervision. See our disclaimer.
Practice questions
Quick practice: Ytterbium
1. What is the chemical symbol of Ytterbium?
2. What is the atomic number of Ytterbium?
3. Which category does Ytterbium belong to?
4. What is the state of Ytterbium at room temperature?
5. Which period of the periodic table is Ytterbium in?
Ytterbium FAQs
What is the atomic number of ytterbium?
Ytterbium's atomic number is 70 — every ytterbium atom has 70 protons in its nucleus.
What is the symbol for ytterbium?
Yb. Named after Ytterby, Sweden — the fourth element from the famous quarry.
Is ytterbium a metal, nonmetal, or metalloid?
Ytterbium is classified as a lanthanide.
What state is ytterbium at room temperature?
At about 25 °C, ytterbium is a solid. It melts at 823.85 °C.
What is ytterbium used for?
Key uses include: optical atomic clocks; high-power fibre lasers; stress gauges in earthquake monitoring.
Related elements
Keep working with this element
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