Quick Facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Er |
| Atomic Number | 68 |
| Atomic Mass | 167.26 u |
| Category | Lanthanide |
| Period | 6 |
| Group | 3 |
| Block | f |
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f¹² 6s² |
History and Discovery
Discovered by: Carl Gustaf Mosander Year of Discovery: 1843 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Etymology
Named after Ytterby, Sweden.
Applications and Uses
- Fiber optic amplifiers (erbium-doped fiber amplifiers—EDFA)
- Er:YAG lasers for dentistry and dermatology
- Pink glass colorant
- Nuclear technology
- Vanadium alloys
Interesting Facts
- Critical for fiber optic telecommunications
- EDFA revolutionized long-distance internet communication
- One of four elements named after Ytterby
- Pink erbium oxide is used in eyeglass lenses
- Er:YAG lasers used for skin resurfacing