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| a rare metallic element found in gadolinite and forming compounds resembling those of yttrium. Symbol: Yb; atomic weight: 173.04; atomic number: 70; specific gravity: 6.96. |
yt·ter·bi·um (ĭ-tûr'bē-əm) n. Symbol Yb A soft, bright, silvery rare-earth element occurring in two allotropic forms and used as an x-ray source for portable irradiation devices, in some laser materials, and in some special alloys. Atomic number 70; atomic weight 173.04; melting point 824°C; boiling point 1,196°C; specific gravity 6.972 or 6.54 (25°C) depending on allotropic form; valence 2, 3. See Table at element. [After Ytterby, a town in Sweden.] yt·ter'bic (-bĭk) adj. |
ytterbium yt·ter·bi·um (ĭ-tûr'bē-əm)
n.
Symbol Yb
A soft bright allotropic rare-earth element. Atomic number 70; atomic weight 173.04; melting point 824°C; boiling point 1,194°C; specific gravity 6.97 or 6.90 (25°C) depending on allotropic form; valence 2, 3.
| ytterbium (ĭ-tûr'bē-əm) Pronunciation Key
Symbol Yb A soft, silvery-white metallic element of the lanthanide series that occurs as seven stable isotopes. It is used as a radiation source for portable x-ray machines. Atomic number 70; atomic weight 173.04; melting point 824°C; boiling point 1,196°C; specific gravity 6.972 or 6.54 (25°C) depending on allotropic form; valence 2, 3. See Periodic Table. |
ytterbium
((Yb), chemical element, rare-earth metal of the lanthanoid series of the periodic table, a low-melting-point, divalent rare earth with little commercial use.
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