Ytterbium
Atomic Data
| Atomic Number | 70 |
| Symbol | Yb |
| Atomic Weight | 173.05 u |
| Density (STP) | 6.965 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 823.85 °C (1097 K) |
| Boiling Point | 1195.85 °C (1469 K) |
| Electronegativity | 1.1 (Pauling) |
| Electron Config. | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 6s2 |
| Oxidation States | +2, +3 |
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Category | Lanthanoid |
| Period / Group | 6 / None |
| CAS Number | 7440-64-4 |
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f14 6s2
| Shell | n | Subshell | Electrons | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K | 1 | 1s | 2 | 2 |
| L | 2 | 2s | 2 | 4 |
| L | 2 | 2p | 6 | 10 |
| M | 3 | 3s | 2 | 12 |
| M | 3 | 3p | 6 | 18 |
| M | 3 | 3d | 10 | 28 |
| N | 4 | 4s | 2 | 30 |
| N | 4 | 4p | 6 | 36 |
| N | 4 | 4d | 10 | 46 |
| N | 4 | 4f | 14 | 60 |
| O | 5 | 5s | 2 | 62 |
| O | 5 | 5p | 6 | 68 |
| P | 6 | 6s | 2 | 70 |
| Total | 70 | 70 | ||
Isotopes of Ytterbium
Ytterbium has seven naturally occurring stable isotopes. The most abundant is ¹⁷⁴Yb, comprising 32.03% of all naturally occurring Ytterbium.
| Isotope | Symbol | Protons | Neutrons | Abundance | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ytterbium-168 | ¹⁶⁸Yb | 70 | 98 | 0.12 | Stable |
| Ytterbium-170 | ¹⁷⁰Yb | 70 | 100 | 2.98 | Stable |
| Ytterbium-171 | ¹⁷¹Yb | 70 | 101 | 14.09 | Stable |
| Ytterbium-172 | ¹⁷²Yb | 70 | 102 | 21.68 | Stable |
| Ytterbium-173 | ¹⁷³Yb | 70 | 103 | 16.1 | Stable |
| Ytterbium-174 | ¹⁷⁴Yb | 70 | 104 | 32.03 | Stable |
| Ytterbium-176 | ¹⁷⁶Yb | 70 | 106 | 13.0 | Stable |
Abundance & Occurrence
Ytterbium is present in Earth's crust at approximately 3.2 ppm by mass and at approximately 0.1 ppm by mass throughout the universe.
Earth's Crust (ppm by mass)
Universe (ppm by mass)
Discovery & History
Read more about the discovery of the periodic table of elements →
Safety & Handling
- Dust inhalation: Ytterbium metal dust and oxide are respiratory irritants; use appropriate respiratory protection and ventilation when handling powders.
- Ytterbium-169: radiation: Yb-169 (t½ = 32 days, gamma emitter) is used in portable industrial radiography; it requires shielded containers, radiation work permits, and stringent source tracking to prevent orphaned source incidents.
- Fire hazard: Ytterbium metal powder is flammable; metal fires require Class D extinguishing agents.
- General toxicity: Ytterbium has low acute systemic toxicity; inhalation of dusts during processing is the primary occupational concern.
Ytterbium in the Real World
Real-World Uses
- High-power fibre lasers: Ytterbium-doped silica fibre lasers (emission at ~1030–1100 nm) deliver kilowatt-class continuous-wave outputs and are the dominant technology for industrial laser cutting, welding, and marking of metals.
- Optical lattice atomic clocks: Ytterbium optical clocks using the ultranarrow clock transition of Yb atoms are among the most precise timekeeping devices ever built, with applications in redefinition of the SI second and tests of general relativity.
- Alloy additive: Ytterbium additions to stainless steel and speciality alloys refine grain structure and improve mechanical properties at high temperatures, studied for jet engine and nuclear applications.
- High-pressure calibrant: Ytterbium is used as a pressure calibrant in diamond anvil cell experiments because its electronic structure undergoes a well-characterised pressure-induced transition, serving as an internal pressure standard in high-pressure physics research.
Downloadable Resources
Free periodic table reference sheets for classrooms, study sessions, and laboratory use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ytterbium used for?
Ytterbium-doped fibre lasers are among the most widely used industrial lasers, employed in cutting and welding metals in manufacturing. Ytterbium is also used in some atomic clocks: ytterbium optical lattice clocks are among the most precise timekeepers ever built. Ytterbium compounds are used as catalysts in organic chemistry, and ytterbium alloys have been investigated for their unique properties under high pressure.
Why are ytterbium fibre lasers popular in industry?
Ytterbium-doped fibre lasers operate at around 1064–1080 nm wavelength and offer several advantages: very high wall-plug efficiency (converting electrical power to laser light at over 30%), excellent beam quality, fibre delivery which is flexible and compact, and low maintenance. They can reach continuous-wave powers of tens of kilowatts, making them ideal for cutting and welding steel, aluminium, and other metals in automotive and aerospace manufacturing.
How was ytterbium discovered?
Ytterbium was discovered in 1878 by Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac, who separated it from erbia (erbium oxide). He called the new oxide neoerbia (later renamed ytterbia). The metallic element was named ytterbium after Ytterby, the Swedish village: making it the fourth element named after that single quarry, alongside yttrium, terbium, and erbium.
What are ytterbium optical lattice clocks?
Ytterbium optical lattice clocks trap thousands of Yb atoms in a standing wave of laser light (an 'optical lattice') and probe an ultranarrow optical transition in the atoms using another laser. The transition frequency is so stable and well-defined that these clocks lose less than one second in the age of the universe. They are currently the most accurate clocks ever built and may redefine the SI second, replacing caesium fountain clocks.