Gadolinium (Gd)
"The Contrast, a hero with magnetic abilities who helps doctors see diseases more clearly in MRI scans."
A memorable persona to anchor Gd in your mind.
7.9
Grams per cm³
1313
Celsius (°C)
237
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
Gadolinium is found in the contrast agent injected for an MRI scan.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1880
Discovered By
Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac
Origin of Name
"Gadolinium was named in honour of Johan Gadolin."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
157.25 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
3273°C
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f75d16s2
1st Ionization Energy
6.15 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"Gadolinium is a silvery-white, malleable, and ductile metal."
Did You Know?
It has the highest ability to capture thermal neutrons of any known element, making it highly effective for use in shielding and control rods in nuclear reactors.
Gadolinium compounds are widely used as a contrast agent for MRI scans. When injected into the bloodstream, they enhance the visibility of tumors and tissues.
It is named after the Finnish chemist and geologist Johan Gadolin, who discovered the first rare earth element, yttrium.
It is one of the few elements that is ferromagnetic at or near room temperature (its Curie point is 20 °C or 68 °F).