Erbium
lanthanide · period 6 · group 3 · f-block
Erbium is a chemical element with the symbol Er and atomic number 68. A silvery-white solid metal when artificially isolated, natural erbium is always found in chemical combination with other elements.
What the numbers say
At standard temperature and pressure Erbium is a solid, sitting in period 6, group 3 of the f-block.
Its melting point of 1802 K (1529 °C) is the 28th highest of the 110 elements with a measured value — mid-range among the elements.
At 9.066 g/cm³ it is the 32nd densest of 96 elements with a quoted density.
Pauling electronegativity is 1.24. Paired with oxygen (3.44) that is a difference of 2.20, which puts the bond predominantly ionic — expect a stable oxide ceramic.
In the solid state it takes a simple hexagonal structure — hexagonal packing offers few easy slip systems, so properties are anisotropic and formability is limited.
First identified in 1842.
Crystal structure
Solid Erbium adopts a Simple Hexagonal arrangement, in the Hexagonal system — axes a = b ≠ c, angles α = β = 90°, γ = 120°. Symmetry controls the anisotropy of stiffness and thermal expansion, and the available slip systems set how far the metal deforms before it fractures.
Check it against computed structures
The structure search queries the Materials Project, OQMD and the Open Materials Database for computed crystal structures containing Er — with DFT formation energy, hull stability and band gap where the provider publishes them.
K 2 · L 8 · M 18 · N 30 · O 8 · P 2
Properties
| Atomic number | 68 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 167.2593 u |
| Series | lanthanide |
| Group | 3 |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | f-block |
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Density | 9.066 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1802 K (1529 °C) |
| Boiling point | 3141 K (2868 °C) |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.24 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹² 6s² |
| Crystal structure | Simple Hexagonal |
| Oxidation states | 3 |
| Discovered | 1842 |
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See Er in context with all 118 elements.
Working with erbium in a real design?
Ask the materials chat how Er behaves in your alloy system, what it does to weldability, and which grades to look at — with the source of every number named.