Gadolinium (Gd)
| Atomic Number | 64 |
|---|---|
| Atomic Mass | 157.253 u |
| Category | Lanthanide |
| Electron Config | [Xe] 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6s² |
| Appearance | silvery white |
| Density (STP) | 7901 g/L |
| Melting Point | 1585 K |
| Boiling Point | 3273 K |
| Electronegativity | 1.2 (Pauling) |
| Ionization Energy | 593.4 kJ/mol |
| Atomic Radius | 180 pm |
| Crystal Structure | Simple Hexagonal |
| Discovered By | Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac (1880) |
Brief Introduction
Gadolinium (Gd) is a silvery-white, malleable rare earth metal with unique magnetic properties. It is ferromagnetic at room temperature and has the highest thermal neutron capture cross-section of any element. Key details about Gadolinium (Gd) are as follows:
Uses: Used in MRI contrast agents (gadolinium-based contrast agents enhance imaging), neutron radiography, nuclear reactor shielding and control rods, magneto-optical data storage, and in gadolinium-yttrium-garnet (GYG) for microwave applications.
Production/Extraction: Extracted from monazite and bastnäsite ores. China is the primary producer. Moderately abundant among rare earth elements.
History: Discovered in 1880 by Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac in Switzerland through spectroscopic analysis of didymia and gadolinite. Named after Johan Gadolin, Finnish chemist who discovered yttrium.
Health Effects & Safety: Gadolinium compounds have low toxicity, but free gadolinium ions are toxic. MRI contrast agents are generally safe but can cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with kidney disease. No known biological role.
Price/Market: Moderate to high pricing. Major demand from medical imaging (MRI contrast). Supply tied to rare earth production.
Properties: Ferromagnetic at room temperature (Curie temperature 20°C), highest thermal neutron capture cross-section of any element, exhibits +3 oxidation state, superconductive below 1 K, and has seven naturally occurring isotopes.
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