Holmium [Ho] (CAS-ID: 7440-60-0) locate me
An: 67 N: 98 Am: 164.93032
Group Name: Lanthanoid
Block: f-block  Period: 6 (lanthanoid)
State: solid at 298 K
Colour: silvery white Classification: Metallic
Boiling Point: 2993K (2720'C)
Melting Point: 1734K (1461'C)
Density: 8.79g/cm3
Shell Structure diagram | Atomic Radius diagram
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Discovery Information
Who: J.L. Soret
When: 1878
Where: Switzerland
Name Origin
From Holmia, the Latin name for Stockholm.
Sources
Occurs in gadolinite, monazie and other rare-earth minerals.
Uses
As control-rods for nuclear reactors because it readily absorbs neutrons. Forms highly magnetic compounds when combined with yttrium. Holmium oxide is used as a yellow glass coloring.
Its very high magnetic moment is suitable for use in yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) and yttrium-lanthanum-fluoride (YLF) solid state lasers found in microwave equipment (which are in turn found in a variety of medical and dental settings).
Notes
The element, as with other rare earth elements, appears to have a low acute toxic rating. Holmium plays no biological role in humans but may be able to stimulate metabolism.
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