Dysprosium Facts – Element 66 or Dy

This entry was posted on by (updated on )
Dysprosium is a silver-colored rare earth element. This is a chunk of purified dysprosium metal. Tomihahndorf
Dysprosium is a silver-colored rare earth element. This is a chunk of purified dysprosium metal. Tomihahndorf

Element Name: Dysprosium

Atomic Number: 66

Symbol: Dy

Atomic Weight: 162.50

Discovered By: Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran

Discovery Date: 1886 (France)

Electronic Configuration: [Xe] 4f10 6s2

Atomic Weight: 162.50

Element Classification: Rare Earth (Lanthanide Series)

Name Origin: Greek: dysprositos (hard to get at)

Density (g/cc): 8.55

Melting Point (°K): 1685

Boiling Point (°K): 2835

Appearance: soft, lustrous, silvery metal

Atomic Radius (pm): 180

Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 19.0

Covalent Radius (pm): 159

Ionic Radius: 90.8 (+3e)

Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): 0.173

Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 291

First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 567

Oxidation States: 3

Lattice Structure: Hexagonal

Lattice Constant (Å): 3.590

Lattice C/A Ratio: 1.573

Sources: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Lange’s Handbook of Chemistry (1952)