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ytterbium

(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

Origin: 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

See ytterbium in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun Symbol Yb

A soft, bright, silvery rare-earth element occurring in two allotropic forms and used as an x-ray source for portable irradiation devices, in some laser materials, and in some special alloys. Atomic number 70; atomic weight 173.04; melting point 824°C; boiling point 1,196°C; specific gravity 6.972 or 6.54 (25°C) depending on allotropic form; valence 2, 3. See Table at element.

Origin:

Origin: After Ytterby, a town in Sweden

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