66162.5DyDysprosium
Dysprosium (Dy) — element 66lanthanide · period 6
Dysprosium is a chemical element with the symbol Dy and atomic number 66. It is a lanthanide in period 6 of the periodic table (the f-block), with a standard atomic mass of 162.5 u. At room temperature (25 °C) dysprosium is a solid.
💡 Known for: Added to neodymium magnets so they keep working at high temperatures in electric-vehicle motors.
# Dysprosium properties
| Symbol | Dy |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 66 |
| Atomic mass | 162.5 u |
| Category | lanthanide |
| Group | — (f-block, no group number) |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | f-block |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁰ 6s² |
| Full configuration | 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s² |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 28, 8, 2 |
| Protons / electrons | 66 / 66 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 1680 K (1406.8 °C, 2564.3 °F) |
| Boiling point | 2840 K (2566.8 °C, 4652.3 °F) |
| Density | 8.55 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.22 |
| First ionization energy | 5.939 eV |
| Atomic radius | 228 pm |
| Discovered | 1886 |
# Electron configuration of dysprosium
The electron configuration of dysprosium is [Xe] 4f¹⁰ 6s², written out in full as 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s². Its 66 electrons fill 6 shells as 2, 8, 18, 28, 8, 2, so the outermost shell holds 2 electrons.
# Related elements
TbTerbiumprevious elementHoHolmiumnext elementLaLanthanumlanthanideCeCeriumlanthanidePrPraseodymiumlanthanideNdNeodymiumlanthanidePmPromethiumlanthanideSmSamariumlanthanideEuEuropiumlanthanideGdGadoliniumlanthanide
# Dysprosium FAQ
What is the atomic number of dysprosium?
The atomic number of dysprosium is 66: every dysprosium atom has 66 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Dy.
What is the atomic mass of dysprosium?
The standard atomic mass of dysprosium is 162.5 u.
What is the electron configuration of dysprosium?
Dysprosium's electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹⁰ 6s² (1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s²), with 2, 8, 18, 28, 8, 2 electrons per shell.
Is dysprosium a metal?
Yes. Dysprosium is a lanthanide, one of the metals.
What is the melting point of dysprosium?
Dysprosium melts at 1680 K (1406.8 °C, 2564.3 °F) and boils at 2840 K (2566.8 °C, 4652.3 °F).
What is dysprosium used for / known for?
Added to neodymium magnets so they keep working at high temperatures in electric-vehicle motors.