Ytterbium is a soft lanthanide used in fibre lasers, precision atomic clocks, and alloys studied under high pressure.
Atomic number
70
Category
Lanthanide
Period
6
Group
f-block
State
Solid
Fun facts about Ytterbium
Ytterbium-doped fibre lasers can convert electrical power efficiently into light.
Optical clocks can use an extremely narrow transition in ytterbium atoms.
It can exist in both +2 and +3 oxidation states.
Common uses of Ytterbium
High-power fibre lasers
Optical atomic clocks
Speciality alloys and research
Where Ytterbium sits in the periodic table
Ytterbium 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 Yb with atomic number 70 and the listed atomic mass 173.05. The summary, facts, and uses above keep those element properties together in one reference.