Quick Facts
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Sm |
| Atomic Number | 62 |
| Atomic Mass | 150.36 u |
| Category | Lanthanide |
| Period | 6 |
| Group | 3 |
| Block | f |
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f⁶ 6s² |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| State at 20°C | Solid |
| Density | 7.52 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 1072°C (1345 K) |
| Boiling Point | 1900°C (2173 K) |
| Appearance | Silvery metal |
History and Discovery
Discovered by: Paul Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran Year of Discovery: 1879 Location: Paris, France
Etymology
Named after the mineral samarskite, which was named after Vasili Samarsky-Bykhovets, a Russian mining official.
Applications and Uses
- Samarium-cobalt magnets (high-temperature applications)
- Nuclear reactor control rods (high neutron absorption)
- Cancer treatment (samarium-153)
- Carbon arc lamps
- Glass and ceramics
Interesting Facts
- Samarium-cobalt magnets were the first rare earth magnets (before NdFeB)
- Named after a mineral, which was named after a person
- Samarium-149 has the highest neutron capture cross-section of any stable isotope
- Used in cancer pain treatment (Sm-153 EDTMP)