Ytterbium

Symbol: Yb
Date of discovery: 1878
Name origin: Ytterby (town in Sweden)
Appearance: silver
Discoverer: Jean de Marignac
Obtained from: monazite

Melting point: 1097 K
Boiling point: 1469 K
Density[kg/m³]: 6570
Molar volume: 24.84 × 10^-6 m³/mol
Protons/Electrons: 70
Neutrons: 103
Shell structure: 2,8,18,32,8,2
Electron configuration: [Xe]4f146s2
Oxidation state: 2,3
Crystal structure: cubic

Ytterbium is soft and ductile, with a bright slivery luster. Discovered by J. de Marignac in 1878, ytterbium was named after the Swedish town Ytterby, in which it was discovered. Ytterbium occurs in nature with other rare earth metals in a number of rare minerals and is principally commercially recovered from monazite sand. Ytterbium exists in seven stable isotopes, of which one (169Yb) has been used as a substitute radiation source for X-ray machines when electricity is not available. Ytterbium may be employed to improve stainless steel's mechanical properties, such as strength and grain refinement.