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Periodic Table

 

 

 

 Elemental Facts: 
Symbol
 Yb
Atomic Number
 70
Atomic Mass
 173.04
Electron Configuration
2,8,18,32,18,2
[Xe].4f14.6s2
Valence Number -2
Melting Point 1097 °K, 824°C, 1515°F
Boiling Point 1467 °K, 1194°C, 2181°F 
Family
 no family
Series
 6, Lanthanide series
Element Classification
 Lanthanide series
Density
 6.9g/cc  @ 300k
Crystal Structure cubic face centered
State of Matter
 solid
Date of Discovery
 1878
Person Who Discovered Jean de Marignac
This is a picture of a piece of Ytterbium.  Ytterbium exists only under certain conditions in the earths atmosphere.
Historical Facts and Elements Uses:
       Ytterbium was discovered in 1878 by Jean de Marignac.  It is a soft silvery metal.  It's place of 
origin is Ytterby, Sweden, and it is found in the minerals Yttria, Monazite, and Gatolinite.  Small 
amounts are used in metallurgical and chemical experiments.  Ytterbium is the first rare earth metal to be discovered, its name is easily confused with the name of another rare earth element, yttrium.  It is easily oxidized.  An oxide layer forms on freshly cut surface because the metal reacts with air.  Ytterbium is part of the lanthanide series. It is obtained from monazite sand, which is a mixture of phosphates of calcium, cerium and most of the other rare earth metals.  The most important use of ytterbium is as a doping agent for garnet crystals in lasers.  It has been used to make steel stronger.  Ytterbium has lots of radioactive isotopes, one of which is used in radiography of metal parts and in medical diagnostic work. 

 
Bibliography:
World Book Millennium 2000 encyclopidia.2000:21, p574
Winter, Mark. "Web Elementstm"December 12, 2001 http://www.webelements/scholar/index.html,(November 29)
http://www.environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/, 12-13-01
http://www.webelements.com/webelements/scholar/index.html, 12-13-01

 
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Created By:
 Jayme 
Last Updated:
 12-13-01