erbium

er·bi·um  (ûrb-m)

n. Symbol Er

A soft, malleable, silvery rare-earth element, used in metallurgy and nuclear research and to color glass and porcelain. Atomic number 68; atomic weight 167.26; melting point 1,497°C; boiling point 2,900°C; specific gravity 9.051; valence 3. See Table at element.

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[After Ytterby, a town in Sweden.]

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erbium [ˈɜːbɪəm]

n

(Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) a soft malleable silvery-white element of the lanthanide series of metals: used in special alloys, room-temperature lasers, and as a pigment. Symbol: Er; atomic no.: 68; atomic wt.: 167.26; valency: 3; relative density: 9.006; melting pt.: 1529°C; boiling pt.: 2868°C

[from New Latin, from (Ytt)erb(y), Sweden, where it was first found + -ium]

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erbium  (ûrb-m)

Symbol Er

A soft, silvery, metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is used as a neutron absorber in nuclear technology and in light amplification for fiber-optic telecommunications. Atomic number 68; atomic weight 167.26; melting point 1,497°C; boiling point 2,900°C; specific gravity 9.051; valence 3. See Periodic Table.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

erbium - a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium atomic number 68, Er metal, metallic element - any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc. fergusonite - a dark mineral consisting of oxides of yttrium and erbium and tantalum and other minerals gadolinite, ytterbite - a mineral that is a source of rare earths; consists of silicates of iron and beryllium and cerium and yttrium and erbium