Erbium is a lanthanide whose infrared emission amplifies fibre-optic signals and whose compounds colour glass pink.
Atomic number
68
Category
Lanthanide
Period
6
Group
f-block
State
Solid
Fun facts about Erbium
Erbium-doped fibre amplifiers boost optical signals without converting them to electricity.
Erbium oxide gives glass and ceramics a pink tint.
Erbium lasers have applications where water strongly absorbs their wavelength.
Common uses of Erbium
Fibre-optic amplifiers
Medical and cosmetic lasers
Glass colourants
Where Erbium sits in the periodic table
Erbium belongs to the lanthanide series in period 6 and the f-block of the periodic table. Under the conditions represented in this reference, its state is solid.
Quick chemistry revision
For quick revision, pair the symbol Er with atomic number 68 and the listed atomic mass 167.26. The summary, facts, and uses above keep those element properties together in one reference.