Ho - Holmium
Holmium Element Information, Facts, Properties, Trends, Uses, Comparison with other elements
Holmium is a chemical element with symbol Ho and atomic number 67. Part of the Lanthanide series, holmium is a rare earth element. Holmium was discovered by Swedish chemist Per Theodor Cleve.
It belongs to group null of the periodic table having trivial name . You can also download Printable Periodic Table of Elements Flashcards for Holmium in a PDF format.
Holmium Facts
Read key information and facts about element Holmium
| Name | Holmium |
| Atomic Number | 67 |
| Atomic Symbol | Ho |
| Atomic Weight | 164.93032 |
| Phase | Solid |
| Color | Silver |
| Appearance | silvery white |
| Classification | Lanthanide |
| Natural Occurance | Primordial |
| Group in Periodic Table | - |
| Group Name | |
| Period in Periodic Table | period 6 |
| Block in Periodic Table | f-block |
| Electronic Configuration | [Xe] 4f11 6s2 |
| Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2, 8, 18, 29, 8, 2 |
| Melting Point | 1747 K |
| Boiling Point | 2973 K |
| CAS Number | CAS7440-60-0 |
How to Locate Holmium on Periodic Table
Periodic table is arranged by atomic number, number of protons in the nucleus which is same as number of electrons. The atomic number increases from left to right. Periodic table starts at top left ( Atomic number 1) and ends at bottom right (atomic number 118). Therefore you can directly look for atomic number 67 to find Holmium on periodic table.
Another way to read periodic table and locate an element is by using group number (column) and period number (row). To locate Holmium on periodic table look for cross section of group - and period 6 in the modern periodic table.
Holmium History
The element Holmium was discovered by J.-L. Soret in year 1878 in Switzerland. Holmium was first isolated by T. Cleve in 1879. Holmium derived its name from Holmia, the New Latin name for Stockholm.
| Discovered By | J.-L. Soret |
| Discovery Date | 1878 in Switzerland |
| First Isolation | 1879 |
| Isolated by | T. Cleve |
Soret found it in samarskite and later, Per Teodor Cleve split Marignac's erbia into erbia proper and two new elements, thulium and holmium.
Holmium Uses
Holmium is used in the production of magnets as a flux concentrator. It is also used as a yellow or red color in cubic zirconia manufacturing
Holmium Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
The table below shows the abundance of Holmium in Universe, Sun, Meteorites, Earth's Crust, Oceans and Human Body.
| ppb by weight (1ppb =10^-7 %) | ppb by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %) | |
|---|---|---|
| Abundance in Universe | 0.5 | 0.004 |
| Abundance in Sun | - | - |
| Abundance in Meteorites | 60 | 7 |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 1200 | 150 |
| Abundance in Oceans | 0.00022 | 0.000008 |
| Abundance in Humans | - | - |
Crystal Structure of Holmium
The solid state structure of Holmium 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)
| a | b | c |
|---|---|---|
| 357.73 pm | 357.73 pm | 561.58 pm |
and the angles between them Lattice Angles (alpha, beta and gamma).
| alpha | beta | gamma |
|---|---|---|
| π/2 | π/2 | 2 π/3 |
The positions of the atoms inside the unit cell are described by the set of atomic positions ( xi, yi, zi) 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 |
The number of atoms per unit cell in a simple cubic, face-centered cubic and body-centred cubic are 1,4,2 respectively.
Holmium Atomic and Orbital Properties
Holmium atoms have 67 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 8, 18, 29, 8, 2] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) 4I15/2.
| Atomic Number | 67 |
| Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 67 |
| Number of Protons | 67 |
| Mass Number | 165 |
| Number of Neutrons | 98 |
| Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2, 8, 18, 29, 8, 2 |
| Electron Configuration | [Xe] 4f11 6s2 |
| Valence Electrons | 4f11 6s2 |
| Valence (Valency) | 3 |
| Main Oxidation States | 3 |
| Oxidation States | 0, 2, 3 |
| Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 4I15/2 |
Bohr Atomic Model of Holmium - Electrons per energy level
| n | s | p | d | f |
|---|
Ground State Electronic Configuration of Holmium - neutral Holmium atom
Abbreviated electronic configuration of Holmium
The ground state abbreviated electronic configuration of Neutral Holmium atom is [Xe] 4f11 6s2. The portion of Holmium 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 4f11 6s2, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.
Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Holmium
Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Holmium atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 4f11 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 Holmium
Holmium atomic radius is 226 pm, while it's covalent radius is -.
| Atomic Radius Calculated | 226 pm(2.26 Å) |
| Atomic Radius Empirical | 175 pm (1.75 Å) |
| Atomic Volume | 18.753 cm3/mol |
| Covalent Radius | - |
| Van der Waals Radius | - |
| Neutron Cross Section | 65 |
| Neutron Mass Absorption | 0.015 |
Spectral Lines of Holmium - Atomic Spectrum of Holmium
A spectral line is a dark or bright line in an otherwise uniform and continuous spectrum, resulting from an excess or deficiency of photons in a narrow frequency range, compared with the nearby frequencies. Spectral lines are often used to identify atoms and molecules.
Spectral lines are the result of interaction between a quantum system and a single photon. A spectral line may be observed either as an emission line or an absorption line.
Spectral lines are highly atom-specific, and can be used to identify the chemical composition of any medium. Several elements, including helium, thallium, and caesium, were discovered by spectroscopic means. They are widely used to determine the physical conditions of stars and other celestial bodies that cannot be analyzed by other means.
Emission spectrum of Holmium
Absorption spectrum of Holmium
Holmium Chemical Properties: Holmium Ionization Energies and electron affinity
The electron affinity of Holmium is 50 kJ/mol.
| Valence | 3 |
| Electronegativity | 1.23 |
| ElectronAffinity | 50 kJ/mol |
Ionization Energy of Holmium
Ionization energy is the amount of energy required to remove an electron from an atom or molecule.in chemistry, this energy is expresed in kilocalories per mole (kcal/mol) or kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol).
Refer to table below for Ionization energies of Holmium
| Ionization energy number | Enthalpy - kJ/mol |
|---|---|
| 1st | 581 |
| 2nd | 1140 |
| 3rd | 2204 |
| 4th | 4100 |
Holmium Physical Properties
Refer to below table for Holmium Physical Properties
| Density | 8.795 g/cm3(when liquid at m.p density is $8.34 g/cm3) |
| Molar Volume | 18.753 cm3/mol |
Elastic Properties
| Young Modulus | 65 |
| Shear Modulus | 26 GPa |
| Bulk Modulus | 40 GPa |
| Poisson Ratio | 0.23 |
Hardness of Holmium - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element
| Mohs Hardness | - |
| Vickers Hardness | 481 MPa |
| Brinell Hardness | 746 MPa |
Holmium Electrical Properties
Electrical resistivity measures element's electrical resistance or how strongly it resists electric current.The SI unit of electrical resistivity is the ohm-metre (Ω⋅m). While Electrical conductivity is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity. It represents a element's ability to conduct electric current. The SI unit of electrical conductivity is siemens per metre (S/m).
Holmium is a conductor of electricity. Refer to table below for the Electrical properties of Holmium
| Electrical conductors | Conductor |
| Electrical Conductivity | 1100000 S/m |
| Resistivity | 9.4e-7 m Ω |
| Superconducting Point | - |
Holmium Heat and Conduction Properties
| Thermal Conductivity | 16 W/(m K) |
| Thermal Expansion | 0.0000112 /K |
Holmium Magnetic Properties
| Magnetic Type | Paramagnetic |
| Curie Point | 20 K |
| Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | 0.00000549 m3/kg |
| Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | 9.05467e-7 m3/mol |
| Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | 0.0482845 |
Optical Properties of Holmium
| Refractive Index | - |
Acoustic Properties of Holmium
| Speed of Sound | 2760 m/s |
Holmium Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
Refer to table below for Thermal properties of Holmium
| Melting Point | 1747 K(1473.85 °C, 2684.930 °F) |
| Boiling Point | 2973 K(2699.85 °C, 4891.730 °F) |
| Critical Temperature | - |
| Superconducting Point | - |
Enthalpies of Holmium
| Heat of Fusion | 17 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization | 265 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Combustion | - |
Holmium Isotopes - Nuclear Properties of Holmium
Holmium has 36 isotopes, with between 140 and 175 nucleons. Holmium has 1 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
Isotopes of Holmium - Naturally occurring stable Isotopes: 165Ho.
| Isotope | Z | N | Isotope Mass | % Abundance | T half | Decay Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 140Ho | 67 | 73 | 140 | Synthetic | ||
| 141Ho | 67 | 74 | 141 | Synthetic | ||
| 142Ho | 67 | 75 | 142 | Synthetic | ||
| 143Ho | 67 | 76 | 143 | Synthetic | ||
| 144Ho | 67 | 77 | 144 | Synthetic | ||
| 145Ho | 67 | 78 | 145 | Synthetic | ||
| 146Ho | 67 | 79 | 146 | Synthetic | ||
| 147Ho | 67 | 80 | 147 | Synthetic | ||
| 148Ho | 67 | 81 | 148 | Synthetic | ||
| 149Ho | 67 | 82 | 149 | Synthetic | ||
| 150Ho | 67 | 83 | 150 | Synthetic | ||
| 151Ho | 67 | 84 | 151 | Synthetic | ||
| 152Ho | 67 | 85 | 152 | Synthetic | ||
| 153Ho | 67 | 86 | 153 | Synthetic | ||
| 154Ho | 67 | 87 | 154 | Synthetic | ||
| 155Ho | 67 | 88 | 155 | Synthetic | ||
| 156Ho | 67 | 89 | 156 | Synthetic | ||
| 157Ho | 67 | 90 | 157 | Synthetic | ||
| 158Ho | 67 | 91 | 158 | Synthetic | ||
| 159Ho | 67 | 92 | 159 | Synthetic | ||
| 160Ho | 67 | 93 | 160 | Synthetic | ||
| 161Ho | 67 | 94 | 161 | Synthetic | ||
| 162Ho | 67 | 95 | 162 | Synthetic | ||
| 163Ho | 67 | 96 | 163 | Synthetic | ||
| 164Ho | 67 | 97 | 164 | Synthetic | ||
| 165Ho | 67 | 98 | 165 | 100% | Stable | |
| 166Ho | 67 | 99 | 166 | Synthetic | ||
| 167Ho | 67 | 100 | 167 | Synthetic | ||
| 168Ho | 67 | 101 | 168 | Synthetic | ||
| 169Ho | 67 | 102 | 169 | Synthetic | ||
| 170Ho | 67 | 103 | 170 | Synthetic | ||
| 171Ho | 67 | 104 | 171 | Synthetic | ||
| 172Ho | 67 | 105 | 172 | Synthetic | ||
| 173Ho | 67 | 106 | 173 | Synthetic | ||
| 174Ho | 67 | 107 | 174 | Synthetic | ||
| 175Ho | 67 | 108 | 175 | Synthetic |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) identifies hazard class of all dangerous elements/goods/commodities either by its class (or division) number or name. The DOT has divided these materials into nine different categories, known as Hazard Classes.
| DOT Numbers | 3089 |
| DOT Hazard Class | 4.1 |
NFPA 704 is a Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. NFPA is a standard maintained by the US based National Fire Protection Association.
The health (blue), flammability (red), and reactivity (yellow) rating all use a numbering scale ranging from 0 to 4. A value of zero means that the element poses no hazard; a rating of four indicates extreme danger.
| NFPA Fire Rating | N/A | N/A |
| NFPA Health Rating | N/A | N/A |
| NFPA Reactivity Rating | N/A | N/A |
| NFPA Hazards | N/A |
| Autoignition Point | - |
| Flashpoint | - |
Database Search
List of unique identifiers to search the element in various chemical registry databases
| Database | Identifier number |
|---|---|
| CAS Number - Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) | CAS7440-60-0 |
| RTECS Number | - |
| CID Number | CID23988 |
| Gmelin Number | - |
| NSC Number | - |
Compare Holmium with other elements
Compare Holmium with Group , Period 6 and Lanthanide elements of the periodic table.
Compare Holmium with all Group elements
Compare Holmium with all Period 6 elements
Compare Holmium with all Lanthanide elements
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Holmium