ytterbium

American  

[ih-tur-bee-uhm] / ɪˈtɜr bi əm /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare metallic element found in gadolinite and forming compounds resembling those of yttrium. Yb; 173.04; 70; 6.96.

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ytterbium British  

/ ɪˈtɜːbɪəm /

noun

1. a soft malleable silvery element of the lanthanide series of metals that occurs in monazite and is used to improve the mechanical properties of steel. Symbol: Yb; atomic no: 70; atomic wt: 173.04; valency: 2 or 3; relative density: 6.903 (alpha), 6.966 (beta); melting pt: 819°C; boiling pt: 1196°C

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ytterbium Scientific  

/ ĭ-tûr′bē-əm /

1. A soft, silvery-white metallic element of the lanthanide series that occurs as seven stable isotopes. It is used as a radiation source for portable x-ray machines. Atomic number 70; atomic weight 173.04; melting point 824°C; boiling point 1,196°C; specific gravity 6.972 or 6.54 (25°C) depending on allotropic form; valence 2, 3.

2. See Periodic Table

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Other Word Forms

• ytterbic
  adjective
• ytterbous
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of ytterbium

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; see origin at ytterbia, -ium

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ytterbium

"We were able to create nice gradient: the concentration of embedded ytterbium ions gets denser as you go through each layer, with the core being the most dense," says Wu.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

Geological Survey geologists first identified rare earth mineralization in the Music Valley area in 1954, with sampling reporting enrichment in dysprosium, terbium, yttrium and ytterbium, Dateline Resources said in a press release.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026

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

Atom Computing, a California startup, went one better, last year presenting an 1180-qubit computer that relies on the spins of neutral ytterbium atoms.

From Science Magazine ● May 30, 2024

AQT uses calcium ions; the other two use ytterbium ions.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 28, 2023

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