What is Ytterbium? Electron configuration, Symbol.

What is Ytterbium?

Ytterbium is a chemical element that is numbered 70 in the Periodic Table of the Elements. Ytterbium (symbol Yb), is an element of the III group of the periodic table, atomic number 70, atomic mass 173.04 and belongs to lanthanides.

The name of ytterbium comes from the name of a village in Sweden, Ytterby. In this village gadolinite was mined, the mineral in which ytterbium was identified.

Who discovered Ytterbium?

Ytterbium was first discovered by a chemist of Swiss origin Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac in 1878. He made this discovery in a sample of ytterbite, also known as gadolinite.

This mineral had already been discovered in 1787 by Lieutenant Carl Axel Arrhenius near the Swedish village of Ytterby and his work was confirmed in 1797 by Anders Gustaf Ekeberg who decided to name this new oxide yttria.

Electronic configuration of Ytterbium

Ytterbium electron configuration can be written in two forms:

• Detaild electron configuration of Ytterbium: 1s ² 2s ² 2p ⁶ 3s ² 3p ⁶ 4s ² 3d ¹⁰ 4p ⁶ 5s ² 4d ¹⁰ 5p ⁶ 6s ² 4f ¹⁴
• Short notation of electronic configuration of Ytterbium: [Xe] 6s ² 4f ¹⁴

The ytterbium atom and Hf ⁺² , Ta ⁺³ , W ⁺⁴ , Re ⁺⁵ , Os ⁺⁶ have the same electronic configuration.

Important points about Yb element

• The ytterbium atoms in the compounds have oxidation states of 3, 2.
• Yb ^{3+ ,} Yb ²⁺ are the Ions of ytterbium.
• Ytterbium atoms in compounds exhibit valence III, II.
• Ionization energy of Yb: E _o = 603 kJ / mol .

Presence of Ytterbium in its natural state

Ytterbium (Yb) is found in nature in gadolinite. This rock is part of the category of silicates. At first, this rock was called ytterbite and is made of :

• Beryllium
• Cerium
• Lanthanum
• Neodymium
• Yttrium.

We can get this rock in various places on Earth, but mainly in Sweden, Texas, Norway, and the United States.

Physical and chemical properties of Ytterbium

Ytterbium is a fairly solid metal and part of the lanthanide family. Gray and silvery, ytterbium is a malleable and ductile metal that corrodes in both dry and humid air.

In addition, the Yb element has 3 known allotropic forms, the beta form of which shows electrical conductivity but which becomes a semiconductor under 16,000 atmospheres.

Isotopes of Ytterbium

Ytterbium has 7 stable isotopes known to date, their atomic mass number varying between 168 and 174.

There are also 27 radioisotopes, the most stable having a half-life of about 30 hours and the least stable a half-life of barely two hours.

Uses of Ytterbium

• Ytterbium has a few uses already to this day. However, its applications remain uncommon.
• Indeed, ytterbium is mainly found in stainless steels, the treatment properties of which it improves. Other elements are also built with ytterbium such as atomic clocks or even certain laser crystals.
• However, many uses of ytterbium are still under study such as in semiconductors, superconductors but also strain gauges, thus allowing measurement of very high strain thanks to the properties of its conductivity.

Toxicity of ytterbium

This element can be dangerous so it is very important to handle ytterbium with care. This is because ytterbium vapors and gases can cause pulmonary embolism. This risk can increase if the exposure becomes prolonged.

Usually, ytterbium, like other rare earths with comparable properties, accumulates in the liver when absorbed.

Know about more periodic elements- Aluminium, Gadolinium, Germanium, Neon, Oxygen, Potassium, Promethium, Selenium, Sodium, Terbium, Tellurium, Yttrium, Ytterbium, Zirconium