68 Er Erbium 167.26 u

Erbium

Period
6
Group
—
Block
f-block
Phase (STP)
Solid

Erbium gives a pink color to glass and is crucial for fiber optic communications. Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers enabled the internet revolution.

About Erbium

Indispensable to global fiber-optic communications, erbium (Er) amplifies light signals in the erbium-doped fiber amplifiers that made long-distance optical networking practical. Element 68 is a lanthanide in period 6 of the f-block, with an atomic mass of 167.26, the electron configuration [Xe] 4f¹² 6s², and a Pauling electronegativity of 1.24. The same optical properties give erbium compounds a soft pink color used to tint glass and ceramic glazes, and erbium lasers are applied in dermatology and dentistry. A silvery, malleable metal, erbium is solid at standard conditions.

Physical Properties

Atomic Mass 167.26 u
Phase at STP Solid

Electronic Properties

Electronegativity 1.24

Electron Configuration

Configuration [Xe] 4f¹² 6s²

Electron Shell Configuration

Erbium electron shell configuration Er 2e⁻ 8e⁻ 18e⁻ 30e⁻ 8e⁻ 2e⁻
Electron shell structure of Erbium — electrons per shell.
Shell Electrons
1 (K) 2
2 (L) 8
3 (M) 18
4 (N) 30
5 (O) 8
6 (P) 2

Position in Periodic Table

Erbium position in the periodic table Er

Block & Period

Block

s p d f

Period

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Periodic Table

Lanthanides Actinides

More Lanthanide

57 La Lanthanum 58 Ce Cerium 59 Pr Praseodymium 60 Nd Neodymium 61 Pm Promethium 62 Sm Samarium 63 Eu Europium 64 Gd Gadolinium 65 Tb Terbium 66 Dy Dysprosium

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Erbium?
Erbium (Er) is a chemical element with atomic number 68. It is a solid at standard temperature and pressure, classified as a lanthanide.
What are the key properties of Erbium?
Erbium has an atomic mass of 167.26 u.
What is the electron configuration of Erbium?
The electron configuration of Erbium is [Xe] 4f12 6s2. It is in the f-block of the periodic table.
What is the electronegativity of Erbium?
Erbium has an electronegativity of 1.24 on the Pauling scale.