Erbium (Er)

About Erbium

Erbium is a chemical element with the symbol Er and atomic number 68, meaning every atom has 68 protons in its nucleus. It is classed as Lanthanide and is a solid at room temperature. Its atomic mass is about 167.259 atomic mass units (u).

On the periodic table, Erbium sits in group 14, period 6 (lanthanide series), which determines how many electron shells it has and how it tends to react with other elements.

Uses of Erbium

In daily life and industry, Erbium is used for Optical fibers. These uses are closely tied to the typical properties of elements in the Lanthanide category.

Electron Structure of Erbium

Using a simplified electron shell model (at most 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second, 18 in the third, and so on), Erbium has 5 electron shells, with an approximate arrangement of 2, 8, 18, 32, 8 electrons from the innermost shell to the outermost. This is a simplified learning model, not the full electron configuration that accounts for the s, p, d and f subshells.

Explore Other Elements

Want to see another element or try the element symbol quiz? Go back to the Interactive Periodic Table to explore all 118 chemical elements.

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