ytterbium

[ ih-tur-bee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a rare metallic element found in gadolinite and forming compounds resembling those of yttrium. : Yb; : 173.04; : 70; : 6.96.

ytterbium

/ ɪˈtɜːbɪəm /

noun

1. a soft malleable silvery element of the lanthanide series of metals that occurs in monazite and is used to improve the mechanical properties of steel. Symbol: Yb; atomic no: 70; atomic wt: 173.04; valency: 2 or 3; relative density: 6.903 (alpha), 6.966 (beta); melting pt: 819°C; boiling pt: 1196°C

ytterbium

/ ĭ-tûr′bē-əm /

1. A soft, silvery-white metallic element of the lanthanide series that occurs as seven stable isotopes. It is used as a radiation source for portable x-ray machines. Atomic number 70; atomic weight 173.04; melting point 824°C; boiling point 1,196°C; specific gravity 6.972 or 6.54 (25°C) depending on allotropic form; valence 2, 3.
2. See Periodic Table

Other Words From

• yt·terbic yt·terbous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ytterbium¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; ytterbia, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of ytterbium¹

C19: New Latin; see ytterbia

Example Sentences

Central to this innovation is the ytterbium thin-disk laser, which produces high-power, femtosecond pulses at megahertz repetition rates.

From Science Daily

Above the racetrack, a handful of ytterbium ions are trapped and levitated by a train of electrical, radiofrequency, and laser pulses.

From Science Magazine

Here, the researchers started with four parent compounds containing five elements in total -- ytterbium, calcium, magnesium, zinc and antimony -- running calculations to determine which combinations of the parent compounds could reach band convergence.

From Science Daily

The 17 elements are: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium.

From Reuters

Europium is found in fluorescent lighting, gadolinium in nuclear power rods and ytterbium in solar panels.

From BBC