Ytterbium

Ytterbium - Yb

CAS: 7440-64-4
Description: Soft, silvery metal
Classification: Rare Earth (Lanthanide)
Date of Discovery: 1878
Discoverer: Jena de Marignac
Name Origin: Ytterby, a village in Sweden

Atomic Number: 70
Number of Neutrons: 103
Atomic Mass: 173.04(3) amu
Melting Point: 819 °C
Boiling Point: 1196 °C
Density (293 K):

- 6.903 g/cm³

- 6.966 g/cm³
Atomic volume: 24.79 cm³/mol
Electrical resistivity: 0.0351 10^-6/cm

Thermal conductivity: 0.349 W/cmK
Enthalpy of atomization: 180 kJ/mol (est.)
Enthalpy of vaporization: 128.90 kJ/mol
Enthalpy of fusion: 7.660 kJ/mol
Specific heat capacity: 0.15 J/gK

Energy levels: 2-8-18-32-8-2
Electron configuration: [Xe]4f ¹⁴6s²
Crystal Structure: Cubic face centered
Atomic radius: 2.40 Å
Covalent radius: 1.74 Å
Oxidation States: +2, +3
Electronegativity, Pauling: 1.27
Electron affinity:
First ionization energy: 6.254 eV
2nd ionization energy: 12.188 eV
3rd ionization energy: 25.03 eV
Polarizability: 21.0 10^-24cm³

Isotope	Natural Abundance	Atomic Mass	Half-life	Decay Mode	Spin
¹⁵¹Yb	150.9545	1.6 s	⁺
¹⁵²Yb	151.9502	3.2 s	⁺, EC
¹⁵³Yb	152.9492	4 s	⁺, EC
¹⁵⁴Yb	153.9455	0.40 s	⁺, EC;
¹⁵⁵Yb	154.9456	1.7 s	⁺, EC;
¹⁵⁶Yb	155.94277	26 s	⁺, EC;	0+
¹⁵⁷Yb	156.9427	39 s	⁺, EC;
¹⁵⁸Yb	157.93986	1.5 m	⁺, EC	0+
¹⁵⁹Yb	158.9402	1.4 m	EC, ⁺
¹⁶⁰Yb	159.9376	4.8 m	⁺, EC	0+
¹⁶¹Yb	160.9375	4.2 m	⁺, EC	3/2-
¹⁶²Yb	161.9358	18.9 m	⁺, EC	0+
¹⁶³Yb	162.9363	11.1 m	⁺	3/2-
¹⁶⁴Yb	163.9345	1.26 h	EC	0+
¹⁶⁵Yb	164.93540	9.9 m	⁺; EC	(5/2-)
¹⁶⁶Yb	165.93388	2.363 d	EC	0+
¹⁶⁷Yb	166.934947	17.5 m	⁺; EC	5/2-
¹⁶⁸Yb	0.13(1)	167.933895	Stable	0+
^169mYb	46 s	IT	1/2-
¹⁶⁹Yb	168.935187	32.03 d	EC	7/2+
¹⁷⁰Yb	3.05(6)	169.934759	Stable	0+
¹⁷¹Yb	14.3(2)	170.936323	Stable	1/2-
¹⁷²Yb	21.9(3)	171.936378	Stable	0+
¹⁷³Yb	16.12(21)	172.938207	Stable	5/2-
¹⁷⁴Yb	31.8(4)	173.938858	Stable	0+
¹⁷⁵Yb	174.941273	4.19 d	^-	7/2-
^176mYb	11.4 s	IT	(8-)
¹⁷⁶Yb	12.7(2)	175.942569	Stable	0+
^177mYb	6.41 s	IT	1/2-
¹⁷⁷Yb	176.945257	1.9 h	^-	9/2+
¹⁷⁸Yb	177.94664	1.23 h	^-	0+
¹⁷⁹Yb	178.9499	8 m	^-
¹⁸⁰Yb	2 m	^-
Marignac in 1878 discovered a new component, which he called ytterbia, in the earth then known as erbia. 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, respectively. These elements are identical with aldebaranium and cassiopeium, discovered independently and at about the same time by von Welsbach. Ytterbium occurs along with other rare earths in a number of rare minerals. It is commercially recovered principally from monazite sand, which contains about 0.03%. Ion-exchange and solvent extraction techniques developed in recent years have greatly simplified the separation of the rare earths from one another. The element was first prepared by Klemm and Bonner in 1937 by reducing ytterbium trichloride with potassium. Their metal was mixed, however, with KCl. Daane, Dennison, and Spedding prepared a much purer form in 1953 from which the chemical and physical properties of the element could be determined. Ytterbium has a bright silvery luster, is soft, malleable, and quite ductile. While the element is fairly stable, it should be kept in closed containers to protect it from air and moisture. Ytterbium is readily attacked and dissolved by dilute and concentrated mineral acids and reacts slowly with water. Ytterbium has three allotropic forms with transformation points at -13 °C and 795 °C. The beta form is a room-temperature, face-centered, cubic modification, while the high-temperature gamma form is a body-centered cubic form. Another body-centered cubic phase has recently been found to be stable at high pressures at room temperatures. The beta form ordinarily has metallic-type conductivity, but becomes a semiconductor when the pressure is increased above 16,000 atm. The electrical resistance increases tenfold as the pressure is increased to 39,000 atm and drops to about 80% of its standard temperature-pressure resistivity at a pressure of 40,000 atm. Natural ytterbium is a mixture of seven stable isotopes. Twenty-six other unstable isotopes and isomers are known. Ytterbium metal has possible use in improving the grain refinement, strength, and other mechanical properties of stainless steel. One isotope is reported to have been used as a radiation source as a substitute for a portable X-ray machine where electricity is unavailable. Few other uses have been found. Ytterbium has a low acute toxic rating, but may present a carcinogenic hazard. LINKS: Advantages of Ytterbium CW Ytterbium Lasers Information, data sheet and standard forms GRINM'S Products: Rare Earth Materials--Ytterbium Metal Return Sources for the information on this website include: Lide, David R., ed. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 78th Ed., 1997-1998.

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