Ytterbium

Atomic number

70

Atomic mass (u)

173.05

Category

Lanthanide

Standard state

Solid

Melting point

818.85 °C (1092 K)

Boiling point

1195.85 °C (1469 K)

Density (g/cm³)

6.90

Electronegativity (Pauling)

Not reported in this source

Electron configuration

[Xe]6s2 4f14

Oxidation states

+3, +2

Atomic radius (pm)

242

First ionization energy (eV)

6.254

Discovery & recognition

Discovery year / period (PubChem)

1878

Discovery credited to (RSC)

Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac

Date or period recorded by RSC

1878

Discovery place

Geneva, Switzerland

An ancient date does not identify a first human discovery. Different references may date observation, isolation and formal recognition differently.

Natural occurrence & production

The creation of an element’s nuclei and its concentration into terrestrial deposits are different processes. The occurrence note below concerns its presence or production on Earth; it is not a complete account of nucleosynthesis.

“In common with many lanthanide elements, ytterbium is found principally in the mineral monazite.”

Royal Society of Chemistry · occurrence excerpt ↗

Continue the research

Reference values are not product specifications. Blank values have not been estimated. For superheavy elements, some properties and family assignments are theoretical or incompletely measured.