Erbium is a rare earth metal used in nuclear science, lasers, and consumer goods. It is mined from monzanite or gadolinite and is identified by the symbol Er. Erbium is named after the Ytterby mine and is mildly toxic, posing an explosive risk if handled improperly.
Erbium is a metallic chemical element grouped among the so-called rare earth metals in the periodic table of elements. Most chemists prefer to refer to these metals as lanthanides, as “rare earths” is a somewhat misleading term. Like other lanthanides, erbium has various applications, especially in nuclear science, and is also used in the manufacture of some consumer goods. The world’s main source of this element is China, where it is relatively abundant, in stark contrast to the “rare” in “rare earths”.
This element is not usually found isolated in nature, as it is quite reactive. Most erbium is mined from monzanite or gadolinite, two minerals that contain several metals in the lanthanide group. When erbium is isolated, it is soft, with a silvery sheen that can tarnish in humid air. The element is identified by the symbol Er on the periodic table of elements and has atomic number 68.
Carl Mosander is usually credited with discovering this element, even though he never actually succeeded in isolating it. While the Swedish chemist was researching gadolinite from the Ytter mine in Sweden, he found three distinct fractions in the rock, one of which turned out to be an impure form of erbium. By 1905, chemists had succeeded in isolating erbium, which was named after the Ytterby mine. However, it took another 30 years before chemists were able to reliably isolate this element.
Erbium is often used as a dopant in lasers and can also be used in various metal alloys to make them more workable. The element is also used to dye glass and porcelain enamels, and is useful in some nuclear applications. Erbium also produces a distinctive pink colored oxide known as erbium which is used to dye glass, lenses and zirconium. Pink color can be quite rich, especially under the right lighting.
As with other lanthanides, erbium is expected to be at least mildly toxic, and most people observe basic safety precautions when handling it. Erbium dust can pose an explosive risk, as it will react with air and the element has no known biological role in the human body, making ingestion a likely unwise move.
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