70173.05YbYtterbium
Ytterbium (Yb) — element 70lanthanide · period 6
Ytterbium is a chemical element with the symbol Yb and atomic number 70. It is a lanthanide in period 6 of the periodic table (the f-block), with a standard atomic mass of 173.05 u. At room temperature (25 °C) ytterbium is a solid.
💡 Known for: Used in ultra-precise optical atomic clocks and fibre lasers.
# Ytterbium properties
| Symbol | Yb |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 70 |
| Atomic mass | 173.05 u |
| Category | lanthanide |
| Group | — (f-block, no group number) |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | f-block |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s² |
| Full configuration | 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s² |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2 |
| Protons / electrons | 70 / 70 |
| State at 25 °C | solid |
| Melting point | 1097 K (823.9 °C, 1514.9 °F) |
| Boiling point | 1469 K (1195.8 °C, 2184.5 °F) |
| Density | 6.965 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.1 |
| First ionization energy | 6.254 eV |
| Atomic radius | 222 pm |
| Discovered | 1878 |
# Electron configuration of ytterbium
The electron configuration of ytterbium is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s², written out in full as 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s². Its 70 electrons fill 6 shells as 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2, so the outermost shell holds 2 electrons.
# Related elements
TmThuliumprevious elementLuLutetiumnext elementLaLanthanumlanthanideCeCeriumlanthanidePrPraseodymiumlanthanideNdNeodymiumlanthanidePmPromethiumlanthanideSmSamariumlanthanideEuEuropiumlanthanideGdGadoliniumlanthanide
# Ytterbium FAQ
What is the atomic number of ytterbium?
The atomic number of ytterbium is 70: every ytterbium atom has 70 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Yb.
What is the atomic mass of ytterbium?
The standard atomic mass of ytterbium is 173.05 u.
What is the electron configuration of ytterbium?
Ytterbium's electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s² (1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s²), with 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2 electrons per shell.
Is ytterbium a metal?
Yes. Ytterbium is a lanthanide, one of the metals.
What is the melting point of ytterbium?
Ytterbium melts at 1097 K (823.9 °C, 1514.9 °F) and boils at 1469 K (1195.8 °C, 2184.5 °F).
What is ytterbium used for / known for?
Used in ultra-precise optical atomic clocks and fibre lasers.