ytterbium Hear it!

ytterbium definition

yt·ter·bium (i tʉr′bē əm)

noun

a scarce, divalent or trivalent, silvery, malleable chemical element, one of the rare-earth elements, found with yttrium in gadolinite and certain other minerals: symbol, Yb; at. no., 70

Etymology: ModL, contr. < neoytterbium, so named (1907) by its discoverer, G. Urbain (see lutetium) < ytterbia, ytterbium oxide, name coined (1878) by J.-C. G. de Marignac, Swiss chemist who isolated it, after Ytterby: see erbium

Comments


Do you have more to add? Sign in to share your linguistic knowledge or observation.

Connect with Facebook