PTL:Dysprosium
From ChemEd Collaborative
| Symbol: | Dy |
|---|---|
| Atomic Number: | 66 |
| Atomic Weight: | 162.50(3) |
| Electron Configuration: | [Xe] 4f10 6s2 |
| Atomic Radius: | 177.3pm |
| Melting Point: | 1412°C |
| Boiling Point: | 2567°C |
| Heat of Fusion: | 11.06kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization: | 230.0kJ/mol |
| Specific Heat Capacity: | 0.17J/gK |
Dysprosium is a member of the lanthanide series of elements, which stretches from lanthanum (La) through lutetium (Lu).
Contents |
Discovered
Lecoq de Boisbaudran - the discoverer of Ga, Sm, and Gd - also discovered dysprosium in 1886.
Name
It name comes from the Greek word dysprositos, meaning "hard to get at".
Characteristics
Although by far not the most abundant element in the earth's crust, there is twice as much Dy as there is uranium on the earth.
The metal is fairly dense. It is soft enough to be cut with a knife, and it has a silvery appearance. In the solid state, the metal has a hexagonal closest packed structure.
Prepared
Like many of the lanthanide elements, dysprosium is obtained from the mineral monazite [(Ce,Y,La,Nd,Th)PO4], a mixture of the phosphates of Ca, Th, Ce, and most of the other lanthanides.
The metal is obtained by reducing a halide with an "active" metal such as Ca or Li.
3 Li(s) + DyCl3(s) 
Dy(s) + 3 LiCl(s)
The reaction is carried out in a tantalum crucible at high temperature in a helium atmosphere (the latter being used to prevent oxidation of the metal).
Reactions
Dysprosium metal oxidizes fairly readily in the air, forming dysprosium(III) oxide, Dy2O3.
4 Dy(s) + 3 O2(g) 2 Dy2O3(s)
It is readily attacked and dissolved by acids such as HCl and HNO3.
Uses
Dysprosium is used in alloys that are needed for the manufacture of [compact discs] and video laserdiscs.
Emission Spectra
This is the emission spectra for Dysprosium.
