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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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