Dysprosium

General

Name	Dysprosium	Symbol	Dy
Atomic number	66	Atomic weight	162.50
Density @ 293 K	8.536 g/cm3	Atomic volume	19.0 cm3/mol
Group	Rare Earth, Lanthanides	Discovered	1886

Back to the top

States

State (s, l, g)	s
Melting point	1682.2 K	Boiling point	2873 K
Heat of fusion	11.060 kJ/mol	Heat of vaporization	230.0 kJ/mol

Back to the top

Energies

1st ionization energy	571.9 kJ/mole	Electronegativity	1.2
2nd ionization energy	1126 kJ/mole	Electron affinity	50 kJ/mole
3rd ionization energy	2200 kJ/mole	Specific heat	0.17 J/gK
Heat atomization	291 kJ/mole atoms

Back to the top

Oxidation & Electrons

Shells	2,8,18,28,8,2	Electron configuration	[Xe] 4f10 6s2
Minimum oxidation number	0	Maximum oxidation number	3
Minimum common oxidation number	0	Maximum common oxidation number	3

Back to the top

Appearance & Characteristics

Structure	hcp: hexagonal close pkd	Color	silvery-white
Uses	alloys, CD disk	Toxicity
Hardness	mohs	Characteristics	neutron absorber

Back to the top

Reactions

Reaction with air	vigorous, =>Dy2O3	Reaction with 6M HCl	mild, =>H2, DyCl3
Reaction with 6M HCl	mild, =>H2, DyCl3	Reaction with 15M HNO3	mild, =>Dy(NO3)3
Reaction with 6M NaOH

Back to the top

Other Forms

Number of isotopes		7	Hydride(s)		DyH2 DyH3
Oxide(s)		Dy2O3	Chloride(s)		DyCl2 DyCl3

Back to the top

Radius

Ionic radius (2- ion)	pm	Ionic radius (1- ion)	pm
Atomic radius	178 pm	Ionic radius (1+ ion)	pm
Ionic radius (2+ ion)	121 pm	Ionic radius (3+ ion)	105.2 pm

Back to the top

Conductivity

Thermal conductivity		10.7 J/m-sec-deg	Electrical conductivity		10 1/mohm-cm
Polarizability		24.5 A^3

Back to the top

HOME

Source	Monazite(phosphate),bastnaesite	Rel. abund. solar system	-0.404 log
Abundance earth's crust	0.5 log	Cost, pure	210 $/100g
Cost, bulk	$/100g

Back to the top

History:

(Gr. dysprositos, hard to get at) Dysprosium was discovered in 1886 by Lecoq de Boisbaudran, but not isolated. Neither the oxide nor the metal was available in relatively pure form until the development of ion-exchange separation and metallographic reduction techniques by Spedding and associates about 1950. Dysprosium occurs along with other so-called rare-earth or lanthanide elements in a variety of minerals such as xenotime, fergusonite, gadolinite, euxenite, polycrase, and blomstrandine. The most important sources, however, are from monaziate and bastnasite. Dysprosium can be prepared by reduction of the trifluoride with calcium. The element has a metallic, bright silver luster. It is relatively stable in air at room temperature, and is readily attacked and dissolved, with the evolution of hydrogen, but dilute and concentrated mineral acids. The metal is soft enough to be cut with a knife and can be machined without sparking if overheating is avoided. Small amounts of impurities can greatly affect its physical properties. While dysprosium has not yet found many applications, its thermal neutron absorption cross-section and high melting point suggest metallurgical uses in nuclear control applications and for alloying with special stainless steels. A dysprosium oxide-nickel cermet has found use in cooling nuclear reactor rods. This cermet absorbs neutrons readily without swelling or contracting under prolonged neutron bombardment. In combination with vanadium and other rare earths, dysprosium has been used in making laser materials. Dysprosium-cadmium chalcogenides, as sources of infrared radiation, have been used for studying chemical reactions. The cost of dysprosium metal has dropped in recent years since the development of ion-exchange and solvent extraction techniques, and the discovery of large ore bodies. The metal costs about $300/kg in purities of 99+%.

Back to the top

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws