Ytterbium
lanthanide · period 6 · group 3 · f-block
Ytterbium is a chemical element with the symbol Yb and atomic number 70. It is the fourteenth and penultimate element in the lanthanide series, which is the basis of the relative stability of its +2 oxidation state.
What the numbers say
At standard temperature and pressure Ytterbium is a solid, sitting in period 6, group 3 of the f-block.
Its melting point of 1097 K (824 °C) is the 61st highest of the 110 elements with a measured value — mid-range among the elements.
At 6.57 g/cm³ it is the 54th densest of 96 elements with a quoted density.
Pauling electronegativity is 1.1. Paired with oxygen (3.44) that is a difference of 2.34, which puts the bond predominantly ionic — expect a stable oxide ceramic.
In the solid state it takes a face-centered cubic structure — FCC packing gives 12 independent slip systems, which is why FCC metals are the ductile, formable ones.
It is reported in 2 oxidation states (2, 3), which sets how many distinct compounds and phases it can form.
First identified in 1878.
Crystal structure
Solid Ytterbium adopts a Face-centered Cubic arrangement, in the Cubic (isometric) system — axes a = b = c, angles α = β = γ = 90°. 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 Yb — with DFT formation energy, hull stability and band gap where the provider publishes them.
K 2 · L 8 · M 18 · N 32 · O 8 · P 2
Properties
| Atomic number | 70 |
|---|---|
| Atomic mass | 173.0451 u |
| Series | lanthanide |
| Group | 3 |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | f-block |
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Density | 6.57 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1097 K (824 °C) |
| Boiling point | 1469 K (1196 °C) |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.1 |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s² |
| Crystal structure | Face-centered Cubic |
| Oxidation states | 2,3 |
| Discovered | 1878 |
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See Yb in context with all 118 elements.
Working with ytterbium in a real design?
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