Discovery Information
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Who: Per Theodor Cleve |
When: 1879 |
Where: Sweden |
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Name Origin
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From Thule ancient name of Scandinavia. |
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Sources
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Found with other rare earths in the minerals; monazite, gadolinite, euxenite, xenotime, and others. |
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Uses
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None of thulium's compounds is commercially important mainly due to high production costs. Radioactive thulium is used to
power portable x-ray machines, eliminating the need for electrical equipment.
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Thulium-doped calcium sulphate (CaSO4) has been used in personal radiation dosimeters because it can register, by its fluorescence, especially low levels.
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Notes
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Thulium is the least abundant of the rare earth metals, is is and easy metal to work as it can be cut by a knife. Reserves
of thulium are estimated to be about 105 tonnes. World production is about 50 tonnes per year as thulium oxide.
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Thulium has a low-to-moderate acute toxic rating and should be handled with care. Metallic thulium in dust form presents a
fire and explosion hazard.
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