Holmium (Ho)

Atomic Number67
Atomic Mass164.930332 u
CategoryLanthanide
Electron Config[Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s²
Appearancesilvery white
Density (STP)8795 g/L
Melting Point1734 K
Boiling Point2873 K
Electronegativity1.23 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy581 kJ/mol
Atomic Radius175 pm
Crystal StructureSimple Hexagonal
Discovered ByMarc Delafontaine (1878)

Brief Introduction

Holmium (Ho) is a soft, silvery rare earth metal with the highest magnetic moment of any naturally occurring element. It has a bright silvery luster and is relatively stable in dry air. Key details about Holmium (Ho) are as follows:

Uses: Used in the strongest artificially generated magnetic fields, lasers (holmium-YAG laser for medical and dental applications), nuclear reactor control rods, and as a yellow or red colorant for cubic zirconia and glass.

Production/Extraction: Extracted from monazite and bastnäsite ores. One of the rarer rare earth elements. China is the primary producer.

History: Discovered in 1878 by Marc Delafontaine and Jacques-Louis Soret in Switzerland through spectroscopic analysis, and independently by Per Teodor Cleve in Sweden. Named after Holmia, the Latin name for Stockholm.

Health Effects & Safety: Low toxicity with limited data. No known biological role. Holmium compounds should be handled with standard precautions.

Price/Market: Expensive due to low abundance and limited applications. Niche demand from laser and magnetic applications. Supply tied to rare earth production.

Properties: Highest magnetic moment of any naturally occurring element, soft and malleable, exhibits +3 oxidation state, paramagnetic, and has distinctive absorption spectrum used in spectrophotometer calibration.

← Dysprosium (Dy) · Erbium (Er) →

Periodic Table