europium

[yoo-roh-pee-uhm, yuh-]

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare-earth metallic element whose salts are light pink. Eu; 151.96; 63.

europium

/ jʊˈrəʊpɪəm /

noun

1. a soft ductile reactive silvery-white element of the lanthanide series of metals: used as the red phosphor in colour television and in lasers. Symbol: Eu; atomic no: 63; atomic wt: 151.965; valency: 2 or 3; relative density: 5.244; melting pt: 822°C; boiling pt: 1527°C

europium

1. A very rare, silvery-white metallic element that is the softest member of the lanthanide series. It is used in making color television tubes and lasers and as a neutron absorber in nuclear research. Atomic number 63; atomic weight 151.96; melting point 826°C; boiling point 1,439°C; specific gravity 5.259; valence 2, 3.

2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of europium¹

First recorded in 1900–05; Europe + -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of europium¹

C20: named after _Europe + _-ium

Example Sentences

Although you may not be familiar with the names of these rare earths - like neodymium, yttrium and europium - you will be very familiar with the products that they are used in.

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Stars dating back to the early universe contain r-process elements such as europium, suggesting the process began early.

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Found at the very bottom of the periodic table, rare earth elements, such as europium, have shown promise for use in quantum information devices due to their unique atomic structures.

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Researchers found that during the first three hours after adding the europium complex, larger changes in the lifetime of the light emission occurred in the more malignant cells.

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The 17 elements are: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium.

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