europium

American  

[yoo-roh-pee-uhm, yuh-] / yʊˈroʊ pi əm, yə- /

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

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

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

Third, they wanted a large separation between individual europium ions to limit unintended interactions.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2024

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

From Reuters • Jul. 5, 2023

NdPr, europium, terbium and other rare earth metals that were once barely heard of are now commonplace in the manufacture of phone touchscreens, wind turbines and other modern technologies.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2022