europium

American  

[yoo-roh-pee-uhm, yuh-] / jʊˈroʊ pi əm, jə- /

noun

Chemistry.

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

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europium British  

/ 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

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europium Scientific  

/ y-rō′pē-əm /

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

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Etymology

Origin of europium

First recorded in 1900–05; Europe + -ium

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

europium

The region holds deposits of many of the very elements China has placed under export controls: yttrium, scandium, erbium, europium, ytterbium, samarium, and lutetium.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2025

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.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2025

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

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 12, 2024

Upon addition to the cell culture medium, the europium complex initially forms an aggregate with itself.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 22, 2024

Yttrium and europium, for instance, light up iPhone displays and allow them to vibrate.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 13, 2023