63

Eu

Europium
151.964 (1)
 Historical Information

The discovery of europium is generally credited to Eug/ne-Antole Demarcay, who separated the earth in reasonably pure form in 1901 from a material containing largely samarium. Pure europium metal was not isolated until much more recently.
Basic Information Shells
  • Name:Europium
  • Symbol: Eu
  • Atomic number: 63
  • Atomic weight:151.964 (1)
  • Standard state: solid at 298 K
  • Group in periodic table:
  • Group name:Lanthanoid
  • Period in periodic table: 6
  • Block in periodic table: f-block
  • Classification: Metallic
 Europium
Uses Trivia
  • europium isotopes are good neutron absorbers and are used in nuclear control applications
  • europium-doped plastic is a laser material

Europium is about as hard as lead and is quite ductile. It is the most reactive of the rare earth metals, quickly oxidising in air. It resembles calcium in its reaction with water. It is used in television screens to produce a red colour.