Er Erbium
Element Information, Facts, Properties, Trends, Uses, Comparison with other elements

The solid state structure of Erbium is Simple Hexagonal.

The Crystal structure can be described in terms of its unit Cell. The unit Cells repeats itself in three dimensional space to form the structure.

Unit Cell Parameters

The unit cell is represented in terms of its lattice parameters, which are the lengths of the cell edges Lattice Constants (a, b and c)

and the angles between them Lattice Angles (alpha, beta and gamma).

The positions of the atoms inside the unit cell are described by the set of atomic positions ( x_i, y_i, z_i) measured from a reference lattice point.

The symmetry properties of the crystal are described by the concept of space groups. All possible symmetric arrangements of particles in three-dimensional space are described by the 230 space groups (219 distinct types, or 230 if chiral copies are considered distinct.

Space Group Name	P63/mmc
Space Group Number	194
Crystal Structure	Simple Hexagonal
Number of atoms per unit cell

Erbium atoms have 68 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 8, 18, 30, 8, 2] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) ³H₆.

Atomic Number	68
Number of Electrons (with no charge)	68
Number of Protons	68
Mass Number	167
Number of Neutrons	99
Shell structure (Electrons per energy level)	2, 8, 18, 30, 8, 2
Electron Configuration	[Xe] 4f12 6s2
Valence Electrons	4f12 6s2
Valence (Valency)	3
Main Oxidation States	3
Oxidation States	0, 2, 3
Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers)	3H6

Bohr Atomic Model of Erbium - Electrons per energy level

n		s	p	d	f

Ground State Electronic Configuration of Erbium - neutral Erbium atom

Abbreviated electronic configuration of Erbium

The ground state abbreviated electronic configuration of Neutral Erbium atom is [Xe] 4f12 6s2. The portion of Erbium configuration that is equivalent to the noble gas of the preceding period, is abbreviated as [Xe]. For atoms with many electrons, this notation can become lengthy and so an abbreviated notation is used. This is important as it is the Valence electrons 4f12 6s2, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.

Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Erbium

Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Erbium atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 4f12 6s2

Electrons are filled in atomic orbitals as per the order determined by the Aufbau principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle and Hund’s Rule.

As per the Aufbau principle the electrons will occupy the orbitals having lower energies before occupying higher energy orbitals. According to this principle, electrons are filled in the following order: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p…

The Pauli exclusion principle states that a maximum of two electrons, each having opposite spins, can fit in an orbital.

Hund's rule states that every orbital in a given subshell is singly occupied by electrons before a second electron is filled in an orbital.

Atomic Structure of Erbium

Erbium atomic radius is 226 pm, while it's covalent radius is - .

Atomic Spectrum of Erbium

The electron affinity of Erbium is 50 kJ/mol.

Ionization Energy of Erbium

Refer to table below for Ionization energies of Erbium

Refer to below table for Erbium Physical Properties

Elastic Properties

Hardness of Erbium - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element

Erbium Electrical Properties

Erbium is Conductor of electricity. Refer to table below for the Electrical properties ofErbium

Erbium Heat and Conduction Properties

Erbium Magnetic Properties

Optical Properties of Erbium

Acoustic Properties of Erbium

Refer to table below for Thermal properties of Erbium

Enthalpies of Erbium

Erbium has 35 isotopes, with between 143 and 177 nucleons. Erbium has 6 stable naturally occuring isotopes.

Isotopes of Erbium - Naturally occurring stable Isotopes: 162Er, 164Er, 166Er, 167Er, 168Er, 170Er.