Ytterbium (Yb) Fun Facts

70 Yb
Superhero Identity

"The Atomic Clockwork, a hero who helps keep time with almost perfect, unwavering precision."

The true essence of Ytterbium (Yb) on the molecular frontier.

Appearance

Ytterbium is a soft, bright, silvery metal.

Everyday Connection

Ytterbium is found in ultra-precise atomic clocks.

In Pop Culture

Ytterbium is the fourth element to be named after the same small Swedish village � Ytterby.

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Did You Know?

1

Some of the world's most accurate atomic clocks use ytterbium atoms. These clocks are so precise they would not lose or gain a second in billions of years.

2

It was the fourth element to be named after the small Swedish village of Ytterby, the source of the mineral from which it was first extracted.

3

When added to stainless steel, ytterbium improves its strength and other mechanical properties.

4

It has been used as a radiation source for portable X-ray machines, similar to thulium.

5

Under extremely high pressures, ytterbium, which is normally a metal, becomes a semiconductor.