erbium

[ ur-bee-uhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Chemistry.

erbium

/ ˈɜːbɪəm /

a soft malleable silvery-white element of the lanthanide series of metals: used in special alloys, room-temperature lasers, and as a pigment. Symbol: Er; atomic no: 68; atomic wt: 167.26; valency: 3; relative density: 9.006; melting pt: 1529°C; boiling pt: 2868°C

erbium

/ ûr′bē-əm /

A soft, silvery, metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is used as a neutron absorber in nuclear technology and in light amplification for fiber-optic telecommunications. Atomic number 68; atomic weight 167.26; melting point 1,497°C; boiling point 2,900°C; specific gravity 9.051; valence 3.
See Periodic Table

Origin of erbium¹

1835–45; < New Latin, named after Ytterby, Sweden, where first found; -ium

Origin of erbium¹

C19: from New Latin, from ( Ytt ) erb ( y ), Sweden, where it was first found + -ium

Erbium, a rare metal found along with yttrium, terbium, and other rare elements in some rare minerals.

(c.) Yttria (YO) occurs only in a few rare minerals, and usually in company with terbium and erbium.

A rare metal found by Prof. Mosander, associated with erbium and yttrium in ordinary yttria.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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