Terbium (Tb)
| Atomic Number | 65 |
|---|---|
| Atomic Mass | 158.925352 u |
| Category | Lanthanide |
| Electron Config | [Xe] 4f⁹ 6s² |
| Appearance | silvery white |
| Density (STP) | 8219 g/L |
| Melting Point | 1629 K |
| Boiling Point | 3396 K |
| Electronegativity | 1.1 (Pauling) |
| Ionization Energy | 565.8 kJ/mol |
| Atomic Radius | 175 pm |
| Crystal Structure | Simple Hexagonal |
| Discovered By | Carl Gustaf Mosander (1843) |
Brief Introduction
Terbium (Tb) is a soft, silvery-gray rare earth metal that is reasonably stable in air. It is used primarily for its fluorescent and magnetic properties. Key details about Terbium (Tb) are as follows:
Uses: Used in green phosphors for fluorescent lamps and color displays, magneto-optical data storage, terfenol-D alloy (magnetostrictive material for sonar and actuators), solid-state devices, and as a dopant in calcium fluoride and other materials.
Production/Extraction: Extracted from monazite and bastnäsite ores. One of the rarer and more expensive rare earth elements. China dominates production.
History: Discovered in 1843 by Carl Gustaf Mosander in Sweden by separating it from yttria. Named after Ytterby, Sweden (same village that gave names to yttrium, erbium, and ytterbium).
Health Effects & Safety: Low toxicity with limited data. No known biological role. Terbium compounds should be handled with standard rare earth precautions.
Price/Market: Expensive due to low abundance. Demand driven by phosphors and magnetostrictive applications. Price fluctuates with rare earth market dynamics.
Properties: Soft and malleable, exhibits +3 and +4 oxidation states, bright green fluorescence, excellent magnetostrictive properties (large dimensional changes in magnetic fields), and paramagnetic.