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ytterbium

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

Ytterbium is a chemical element with the symbol Yb and atomic number 70. It is a soft, silvery-white metal that is the fourteenth and penultimate element in the lanthanide series, which is the group of elements that follows lanthanum in the periodic table.

Ytterbium is a rare-earth element, meaning that it is not found in abundance in the Earth's crust. It is typically found in combination with other rare-earth elements, such as yttrium and erbium.

Ytterbium is a relatively inert element, meaning that it does not react easily with other elements. It is also a diamagnetic element, meaning that it is repelled by a magnetic field.

Ytterbium has a number of applications, including:

  • Lasers: Ytterbium is used in lasers that emit light in the infrared and visible spectrum.
  • Magnets: Ytterbium is used in magnets that are used in a variety of applications, such as MRI machines and hard drives.
  • Phosphors: Ytterbium is used in phosphors that convert light into other forms of energy, such as electricity.
  • Medical isotopes: Ytterbium is used in the production of medical isotopes, which are used in a variety of medical procedures.

How can the word be used?

Ytterbium magnet: a strong magnet that is made from ytterbium alloy.

ytterbium

Different forms of the word

The word "ytterbium" can also be used as an adjective to describe something that contains ytterbium. For example, "ytterbium alloy" or "ytterbium magnet".

Etymology

The word "ytterbium" is derived from the name of the Swedish town of Ytterby, where it was first discovered.

The word "ytterbium" is a modern Latin word, coined by the Swedish chemist Carl Gustaf Mosander in 1879. Mosander named the element after Ytterby, a town in Sweden where the mineral gadolinite was found, which contained the new element.

Question

What can ytterbium be used for?

AQA Science Exam Question and Answer

Question:

Explain the role of ytterbium in the field of lasers and its applications. Discuss how ytterbium-doped crystals contribute to the creation of powerful and efficient lasers.

Answer:

Ytterbium, a rare earth element, plays a pivotal role in laser technology and various applications. Ytterbium-doped crystals are frequently utilized as gain media in solid-state lasers due to their unique optical properties.

In lasers, ytterbium-doped crystals act as the active medium, absorbing energy and then releasing it as coherent light. Ytterbium-doped lasers emit light in the infrared spectrum, making them suitable for a range of applications, including materials processing, medical procedures, and scientific research.

The energy levels of ytterbium ions in the crystal lattice allow for efficient energy absorption and emission, resulting in high laser efficiency. Ytterbium-doped lasers can be easily tuned to different wavelengths, enabling precise control over the laser output for specific applications.

One of the notable applications of ytterbium-doped lasers is in materials processing, such as cutting, welding, and engraving of various materials, including metals and ceramics. Ytterbium-doped lasers are also used in medical procedures like tattoo removal and skin treatments.