erbium

[ ur-bee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a rare-earth metallic element, having pink salts. : Er; : 167.26; : 68.

erbium

/ ˈɜːbɪəm /

noun

1. a soft malleable silvery-white element of the lanthanide series of metals: used in special alloys, room-temperature lasers, and as a pigment. Symbol: Er; atomic no: 68; atomic wt: 167.26; valency: 3; relative density: 9.006; melting pt: 1529°C; boiling pt: 2868°C

erbium

/ ûr′bē-əm /

1. A soft, silvery, metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is used as a neutron absorber in nuclear technology and in light amplification for fiber-optic telecommunications. Atomic number 68; atomic weight 167.26; melting point 1,497°C; boiling point 2,900°C; specific gravity 9.051; valence 3.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of erbium¹

1835–45; < New Latin, named after Ytterby, Sweden, where first found; -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of erbium¹

C19: from New Latin, from ( Ytt ) erb ( y ), Sweden, where it was first found + -ium

Example Sentences

To accommodate the S-band, the team doped—that is, they introduced new substances to change the material’s properties—two amplifiers, one with the element erbium, the other with thulium.

From Singularity Hub 

Erbium, a rare metal found along with yttrium, terbium, and other rare elements in some rare minerals.

From Project Gutenberg

(c.) Yttria (YO) occurs only in a few rare minerals, and usually in company with terbium and erbium.

From Project Gutenberg

A rare metal found by Prof. Mosander, associated with erbium and yttrium in ordinary yttria.

From Project Gutenberg