70 Yb 173.05

Ytterbium

Lanthanide

Ytterbium (Yb) is a chemical element with atomic number 70, classified as a lanthanide. At room temperature it is a solid. It was discovered in 1878 by Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac.

Properties

Atomic number
70
Atomic mass
173.05 u
Category
Lanthanide
Group
0
Period
6
Block
f-block
Electron configuration
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s²
Phase at STP
Solid
Density
6.965 g/cm³
Melting point
1097 K (823.9 °C)
Boiling point
1469 K (1195.8 °C)
Electronegativity
1.1
Atomic radius
222 pm
Ionization energy
6.254 eV
Discovery
1878 · Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac

Common uses

Lasers, alloys, catalysts, atomic clocks

Did you know?

Used in atomic clocks and named after Ytterby, Sweden.