Ytterbium

 

It is the first rare earth metal to be discovered, and it is covered in silver. Its atomic number is seven, zero. This element is my hero! It is ytterbium!

 

Historical Backround
Physical Properties
Chemical Properties
Properties
Element Uses

 

Historical Background:

  The French Chemist, Jean de Marignac, discovered a component, in 1878, which he called ytterbia, that was known before as erbia.  Ytterby, then, was a village in Sweden.  Now, this element is known as ytterbium.  Ytterbium was actually the first rare earth element to be discovered.  In 1907, Urbain separated ytterbia into two components, which he called neoytterbia and lutecia.  The elements in these earths are now known as ytterbium and lutetium. These elements are identical with aldebaranium and cassiopeium, discovered at about the same time by von Welsbach. 
 

Physical Properties:
            
Physical properties of ytterbium are its atomic mass average is:  173.04, and its boiling point is:  1467k 1194c 2181f, melting point:  1097k 824c 1515f, molar volume:  24.84 cm3/mole, its physical state is solid.  Specific heat:  0.15J/gk, and vapor pressure:  395pa at 824 degrees Celsius. 

 

Chemical Properties: Electrochemical Equivalent: 2.152g/amp-hr, Electronegativity: 1.1 (pauling); 1.06 (Allrod Rochow), Heat of Fusion: 7.66kJ/mol, Ionization Potential: first: 6.254, second: 12.188, third: 25.03, Valence Electron Potential: 50.3
 

Properties:
 Ytterbium has a bright silvery luster, is soft, malleable, and ductile. Though the element is fairly stable, it should be kept in a closed container to protect it from moisture and air. Ytterbium is readily attacked and dissolved by dilute and concentrated mineral acids and reacts slowly with water. It has tree allotropic forms with transformation points at-13 degrees Celsius and 759 degrees Celsius. The beta form is a room temperature, face-centered, cubic modification, while the high temperature gamma form is a body-centered cubic form. Natural Ytterbium is a mixture of seven stable isotopes. Seven other unstable isotopes are known.

  

Element Uses:

Ytterbium is sometimes confused with the element yttrium. It is easily oxidized. An oxide layer reacts with air, so it is forms on freshly cut surface. Ytterbium is part of the lanthanide series. It is obtained from monazite sand, which is a mixture of calcium, cerium, phosphates and most of the other rare earth metals.  Ytterbium is used as a doping agent for garnet crystals and lasers, which is one of the most important uses. It is also used to make steal stronger. Ytterbium has a lot of radioactive isotopes, one of which is used in radiography of metal parts and in medical diagnostic work. 

  

Table
Electron configuration 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 2
Family no family
state of matter solid
series 6, Lanthanide series
atomic number 70

 

http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele008.html

 

Glossary
 

Oxidized: To combine with oxygen; make in to an oxide

2. Ductile: Capable of being drawn in to wire or hammered thin.

3. Dilute: To thin or reduce the concentration of (a solute)

4. Radiograph: An image produced on a radiosensitive surface, such as a photographic film, by radiation other than visible light, especially by x rays passed through an object by photographing a fluoroscopic image.

5. Modification: The act of modifying or the condition of being modified.

6. Isotopes: One of two or more atoms, the nuclei of which have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

 

Bibliography
 

http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele070.html

http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/70.html

http://ull.chemistry.uakron.edu/periodic_table/

http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Yb.html

http://www.webelements.com/ytterbium/

http://www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/yb-en.htm


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