11 Facts About Erbium

Erbium is a chemical element with the symbol Er and atomic number 68.

Erbium's principal uses involve its pink-colored Er ions, which have optical fluorescent properties particularly useful in certain laser applications.

Erbium's properties are to a degree dictated by the kind and amount of impurities present.

Erbium metal retains its luster in dry air, however will tarnish slowly in moist air and burns readily to form erbium oxide:.

Erbium is quite electropositive and reacts slowly with cold water and quite quickly with hot water to form erbium hydroxide:.

Erbium discovered that the sample contained at least two metal oxides in addition to pure yttria, which he named "erbia" and "terbia" after the village of Ytterby where the gadolinite had been found.

Erbium is the 44th most abundant element in the Earth's crust at about 3.

Erbium-doped optical silica-glass fibers are the active element in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, which are widely used in optical communications.

Erbium oxide has a pink color, and is sometimes used as a colorant for glass, cubic zirconia and porcelain.

Erbium is used in nuclear technology in neutron-absorbing control rods or as a burnable poison in nuclear fuel design.

Erbium is slightly toxic if ingested, but erbium compounds are not toxic.