Who discovered erbium and when was it found?
Carl Gustaf Mosander discovered erbium in 1843 while analyzing gadolinite from Ytterby, Sweden. He named the substance erbia after the village where the original rock was mined.
Questions about Erbium
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When was pure erbium metal first produced?
Fairly pure Er2O3 did not appear until 1905 when Georges Urbain and Charles James isolated it independently. Wilhelm Klemm and Heinrich Bommer produced reasonably pure erbium metal much later in 1934 using potassium vapor reduction.
What are the magnetic properties of erbium at different temperatures?
Scientists observe its magnetic state changes based on temperature thresholds below 19 Kelvin. Below this point the material becomes ferromagnetic while rising between 19 and 80 Kelvin makes it antiferromagnetic. Above 80 Kelvin the substance behaves as paramagnetic.
Where is erbium found in nature and how is it extracted?
The concentration of erbium in Earth's crust measures approximately 2.8 milligrams per kilogram. Monazite and bastnäsite ores serve as principal commercial sources for extracting this element globally with ion adsorption clays found in southern China recently becoming major suppliers.
How is erbium used in optical fibers and telecommunications?
Erbium-doped optical silica-glass fibers act as active elements within erbium-doped fiber amplifiers used widely today. These fibers transmit signals through standard single mode optical fibers with minimal loss at specific wavelengths around 980 nanometers.
Why do dermatologists use erbium lasers for skin treatments?
The Er:YAG laser produces highly absorbed energy in water tissues making effects very superficial. Such shallow tissue deposition proves helpful for laser surgery procedures requiring precision and allows for precise control over tissue interaction without damaging surrounding areas.