Compare Molybdenum vs Erbium: Periodic Table Element Comparison Table and Properties
Compare the elements Molybdenum and Erbium on the basis of their properties, attributes and periodic table facts. Compare elements - Molybdenum and Erbium comparison table side by side across over 90 properties. All the elements of similar categories show a lot of similarities and differences in their chemical, atomic, physical properties and uses. These similarities and dissimilarities should be known while we study periodic table elements. You can study the detailed comparison between Molybdenum vs Erbium with most reliable information about their properties, attributes, facts, uses etc. You can compare Mo vs Er on more than 90 properties like electronegativity, oxidation state, atomic shells, orbital structure, Electronaffinity, physical states, electrical conductivity and many more. This in-depth comparison helps students, educators, researchers, and science enthusiasts understand the differences and similarities between Molybdenum and Erbium.
Molybdenum and Erbium Comparison
Here's a detailed comparison between Molybdenum (Mo) and Erbium (Er), focusing on their position in the periodic table, physical and chemical properties, stability, and uses.
Facts - Basic Element Details
| Name | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 42 | 68 |
| Atomic Symbol | Mo | Er |
| Atomic Weight | 95.94 | 167.259 |
| Phase at STP | Solid | Solid |
| Color | Gray | Silver |
| Metallic Classification | Transition Metal | Lanthanide |
| Group in Periodic Table | group 6 | Lanthanide (no group number) |
| Group Name | chromium family | |
| Period in Periodic Table | period 5 | period 6 |
| Block in Periodic Table | d -block | f -block |
| Electronic Configuration | [Kr] 4d5 5s1 | [Xe] 4f12 6s2 |
| Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2, 8, 18, 13, 1 | 2, 8, 18, 30, 8, 2 |
| Melting Point | 2896 K | 1770 K |
| Boiling Point | 4912 K | 3141 K |
| CAS Number | CAS7439-98-7 | CAS7440-52-0 |
| Neighborhood Elements | Neighborhood Elements of Molybdenum | Neighborhood Elements of Erbium |
History
| Parameter | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
| History | The element Molybdenum was discovered by W. Scheele in year 1778 in Sweden. Molybdenum derived its name from the Greek word molybdos meaning 'lead'. | The element Erbium was discovered by G. Mosander in year 1842 in Sweden. Erbium derived its name from Ytterby, Sweden. |
| Discovery | W. Scheele (1778) | G. Mosander (1842) |
| Isolated | J. Hjelm (1781) | T. Cleve (1879) |
Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
Parts per billion (ppb) by weight / by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %)
| Property | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
| Abundance in Universe | 5 / 0.1 | 2 / 0.01 |
| Abundance in Sun | 9 / 0.1 | 1 / 0.01 |
| Abundance in Meteorites | 1200 / 250 | 180 / 20 |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 1100 / 230 | 3000 / 370 |
| Abundance in Oceans | 10 / 0.64 | 0.0009 / 0.000033 |
| Abundance in Humans | 100 / 7 | - / - |
Crystal Structure and Atomic Structure
| Property | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Volume | 9.333 cm3/mol | 18.449 cm3/mol |
| Atomic Radius | 190 pm | 226 pm |
| Covalent Radius | 145 pm | - |
| Van der Waals Radius | - | - |
Atomic Spectrum - Spectral Lines | ||
| Emission Spectrum | ![]() | ![]() |
| Absorption Spectrum | ![]() | ![]() |
| Lattice Constant | 314.7, 314.7, 314.7 pm | 355.88, 355.88, 558.74 pm |
| Lattice Angle | π/2, π/2, π/2 | π/2, π/2, 2 π/3 |
| Space Group Name | Im_ 3m | P63/mmc |
| Space Group Number | 229 | 194 |
| Crystal Structure | Body Centered Cubic ![]() | Simple Hexagonal ![]() |
Atomic and Orbital Properties
| Property | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
| Atomic Number | 42 | 68 |
| Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 42 | 68 |
| Number of Protons | 42 | 68 |
| Mass Number | 95.94 | 167.259 |
| Number of Neutrons | 54 | 99 |
| Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2, 8, 18, 13, 1 | 2, 8, 18, 30, 8, 2 |
| Electron Configuration | [Kr] 4d5 5s1 | [Xe] 4f12 6s2 |
| Valence Electrons | 4d5 5s1 | 4f12 6s2 |
| Oxidation State | 4, 6 | 3 |
| Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 7S3 | 3H6 |
| Shell structure | ![]() | ![]() |
Isotopes and Nuclear Properties
Molybdenum has 6 stable naturally occuring isotopes while Erbium has 6 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
| Parameter | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
| Known Isotopes | 83Mo, 84Mo, 85Mo, 86Mo, 87Mo, 88Mo, 89Mo, 90Mo, 91Mo, 92Mo, 93Mo, 94Mo, 95Mo, 96Mo, 97Mo, 98Mo, 99Mo, 100Mo, 101Mo, 102Mo, 103Mo, 104Mo, 105Mo, 106Mo, 107Mo, 108Mo, 109Mo, 110Mo, 111Mo, 112Mo, 113Mo, 114Mo, 115Mo | 143Er, 144Er, 145Er, 146Er, 147Er, 148Er, 149Er, 150Er, 151Er, 152Er, 153Er, 154Er, 155Er, 156Er, 157Er, 158Er, 159Er, 160Er, 161Er, 162Er, 163Er, 164Er, 165Er, 166Er, 167Er, 168Er, 169Er, 170Er, 171Er, 172Er, 173Er, 174Er, 175Er, 176Er, 177Er |
| Stable Isotopes | Naturally occurring stable isotopes: 92Mo, 94Mo, 95Mo, 96Mo, 97Mo, 98Mo | Naturally occurring stable isotopes: 162Er, 164Er, 166Er, 167Er, 168Er, 170Er |
| Neutron Cross Section | 2.6 | 165 |
| Neutron Mass Absorption | 0.0009 | 0.036 |
Chemical Properties: Ionization Energies and electron affinity
| Property | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
| Valence or Valency | 6 | 3 |
| Electronegativity | 2.16 Pauling Scale | 1.24 Pauling Scale |
| Oxidation State | 4, 6 | 3 |
| Electron Affinity | 71.9 kJ/mol | 50 kJ/mol |
| Ionization Energies | 1st: 684.3 kJ/mol 2nd: 1560 kJ/mol 3rd: 2618 kJ/mol 4th: 4480 kJ/mol 5th: 5257 kJ/mol 6th: 6640.8 kJ/mol 7th: 12125 kJ/mol 8th: 13860 kJ/mol 9th: 15835 kJ/mol 10th: 17980 kJ/mol 11th: 20190 kJ/mol 12th: 22219 kJ/mol 13th: 26930 kJ/mol 14th: 29196 kJ/mol 15th: 52490 kJ/mol 16th: 55000 kJ/mol 17th: 61400 kJ/mol 18th: 67700 kJ/mol 19th: 74000 kJ/mol 20th: 80400 kJ/mol 21st: 87000 kJ/mol 22nd: 93400 kJ/mol 23rd: 98420 kJ/mol 24th: 104400 kJ/mol 25th: 121900 kJ/mol 26th: 127700 kJ/mol 27th: 133800 kJ/mol 28th: 139800 kJ/mol 29th: 148100 kJ/mol 30th: 154500 kJ/mol | 1st: 589.3 kJ/mol 2nd: 1150 kJ/mol 3rd: 2194 kJ/mol 4th: 4120 kJ/mol |
Physical Properties
Erbium (9.066 g/cm³) is less dense than Molybdenum (10.28 g/cm³). This means that a given volume of Molybdenum will be heavier than the same volume of Erbium. Molybdenum is about 13.4 denser than Erbium
| Property | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
| Phase at STP | Solid | Solid |
| Color | Gray | Silver |
| Density | 10.28 g/cm3 | 9.066 g/cm3 |
| Density (when liquid (at melting point)) | 9.33 g/cm3 | 8.86 g/cm3 |
| Molar Volume | 9.333 cm3/mol | 18.449 cm3/mol |
Mechanical and Hardness Properties
| Property | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
Elastic Properties | ||
| Young Modulus | 329 | 70 |
| Shear Modulus | 20 GPa | 28 GPa |
| Bulk Modulus | 230 GPa | 44 GPa |
| Poisson Ratio | 0.31 | 0.24 |
Hardness - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element | ||
| Mohs Hardness | 5.5 MPa | - |
| Vickers Hardness | 1530 MPa | 589 MPa |
| Brinell Hardness | 1500 MPa | 814 MPa |
Thermal and Electrical Conductivity
| Property | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
Heat and Conduction Properties | ||
| Thermal Conductivity | 139 W/(m K) | 15 W/(m K) |
| Thermal Expansion | 0.0000048 /K | 0.0000122 /K |
Electrical Properties | ||
| Electrical Conductivity | 20000000 S/m | 1200000 S/m |
| Resistivity | 5e-8 m Ω | 8.59e-7 m Ω |
| Superconducting Point | 0.915 | - |
Magnetic and Optical Properties
| Property | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
Magnetic Properties | ||
| Magnetic Type | Paramagnetic | Paramagnetic |
| Curie Point | - | 32 K |
| Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | 1.17e-8 m3/kg | 0.00000377 m3/kg |
| Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | 1.122e-9 m3/mol | 6.30566e-7 m3/mol |
| Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | 0.0001203 | 0.0341788 |
Optical Properties | ||
| Refractive Index | - | - |
Acoustic Properties | ||
| Speed of Sound | 6190 m/s | 2830 m/s |
Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
| Property | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
| Melting Point | 2896 K | 1770 K |
| Boiling Point | 4912 K | 3141 K |
| Critical Temperature | - | - |
| Superconducting Point | 0.915 | - |
Enthalpies | ||
| Heat of Fusion | 36 kJ/mol | 19.9 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization | 600 kJ/mol | 285 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Combustion | - | - |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
| Parameter | Molybdenum | Erbium |
|---|---|---|
| CAS Number | CAS7439-98-7 | CAS7440-52-0 |
| RTECS Number | RTECSQA4680000 | - |
| DOT Hazard Class | 4.1 | - |
| DOT Numbers | 3089 | - |
| EU Number | - | - |
| NFPA Fire Rating | 3 | - |
| NFPA Health Rating | 1 | - |
| NFPA Reactivity Rating | 0 | - |
| NFPA Hazards | - | - |
| AutoIgnition Point | - | - |
| Flashpoint | - | - |
Compare Molybdenum and Erbium With Other Elements
Compare Molybdenum and Erbium with other elements of the periodic table. Explore howMolybdenum and Erbium stack up against other elements of the periodic table. Use our interactive comparison tool to analyze 90+ properties across different metals, non-metals, metalloids, and noble gases. Understanding these differences is crucial for applications in engineering, chemistry, electronics, biology, and material science.









