Erbium (Er)
"The Signal-Booster, the hero who amplifies light signals, keeping the internet running fast through fiber-optic cables."
A memorable persona to anchor Er in your mind.
9.066
Grams per cm³
1529
Celsius (°C)
235
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
Erbium is found in the fiber-optic cables that carry internet data.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1843
Discovered By
Carl Gustaf Mosander
Origin of Name
"Erbium is named after Ytterby, Sweden,"
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
167.259 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
2868°C
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f126s2
1st Ionization Energy
6.108 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"Erbium is a soft, malleable, silvery-white metal."
Did You Know?
It is critically important for modern telecommunications; erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) are used to boost and amplify the light signals that travel through fiber-optic cables, allowing data to be sent over long distances.
When added to glass or crystals, erbium produces a distinct pink color and is often used in decorative glassware and jewelry.
Erbium-based lasers are widely used in medicine, especially in dermatology and dentistry, because their light is strongly absorbed by water in tissues, allowing for precise and safe tissue removal.
Like its neighbors yttrium, terbium, and ytterbium, it is named after the mining village of Ytterby, Sweden.