gadolinium

American  

[gad-l-in-ee-uhm] / ˌgæd lˈɪn i əm /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare-earth metallic element. Gd; 157.25; 64.

---

gadolinium British  

/ ˌɡædəˈlɪnɪəm /

noun

1. a ductile malleable silvery-white ferromagnetic element of the lanthanide series of metals: occurs principally in monazite and bastnaesite. Symbol: Gd; atomic no: 64; atomic wt: 157.25; valency: 3; relative density: 7.901; melting pt: 1313±°C; boiling pt: 3273°C (approx.)

---

gadolinium Scientific  

/ găd′l-ĭn′ē-əm /

1. A silvery-white, malleable, ductile metallic element of the lanthanide series that has seven natural isotopes and 11 artificial isotopes. Two of the natural isotopes, Gd 155 and Gd 157, are the best known neutron absorbers. Gadolinium is used to improve the heat and corrosion resistance of iron, chromium, and various alloys and in medicine as a contrast medium for magnetic resonance imaging and as a radioisotope in bone mineral analysis. Atomic number 64; atomic weight 157.25; melting point 1,312°C; boiling point approximately 3,000°C; specific gravity from 7.8 to 7.896; valence 3.

2. See Periodic Table

---

Other Word Forms

• gadolinic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of gadolinium

First recorded in 1885–90; see origin at gadolinite, -ium

Example Sentences

The team planned to use their cellular backpack technology to attach gadolinium molecules to macrophages, a type of white blood cell that is known to infiltrate the brain in response to inflammation.

From Science Daily • Jan. 3, 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

Europium is found in fluorescent lighting, gadolinium in nuclear power rods and ytterbium in solar panels.

From BBC • Oct. 17, 2022

Occasional spikes in the number of neutrons streaming from certain FCMs—a sign of fission—prompt sprinkler systems to spray gadolinium nitrate solution, which absorbs neutrons.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 25, 2022

Well, you see, Mr. Phillips, between school and therapy and not talking to my mom, and turning into a bird and not sleeping, gadolinium hasn’t been the first thing on my mind.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon