Er
167.260Erbium
Erbiyum
Erbium is a lanthanide with atomic number 68. It is essential for erbium-doped fiber amplifiers at 1550 nm, Er:YAG lasers, pink glass coloration, optical materials and modern fiber-optic communication.
68
167.26 g/mol
[Xe] 4f¹² 6s²
2 | 8 | 18 | 30 | 8 | 2
1.24
9.066 g/cm³
1528.8 °C
2867.8 °C
Carl Gustaf Mosander
Erbium was discovered by Carl Gustaf Mosander in 1843 from yttria minerals associated with Ytterby. Its name, like yttrium, terbium and ytterbium, traces back to the Swedish village Ytterby.
Erbium-162
Natural abundance: About 0.14%. Rare stable isotope.Erbium-164
Natural abundance: About 1.6%. Stable isotope of erbium.Erbium-166
Natural abundance: About 33.5%. Most abundant natural erbium isotope.Erbium-167
Natural abundance: About 22.9%. NMR-active stable isotope.Erbium-168
Natural abundance: About 27.0%. Stable isotope of erbium.Erbium-170
Natural abundance: About 14.9%. Stable isotope of erbium.Er₂O₃
Erbium(III) OxidePink glass colorant, optical material and erbium compound precursor.Er:YAG
Erbium-Doped YAGDental and dermatological laser crystal.ErCl₃
Erbium(III) ChlorideResearch precursor and Lewis acid in specialized chemistry.Er-doped fiber
Erbium-Doped Optical FiberAmplifier medium for 1550 nm telecom signals.- Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers, EDFAs, for 1550 nm optical communication networks
- Er:YAG lasers near 2.94 micrometers for dental and dermatological procedures
- Erbium oxide as a pink glass and ceramic colorant
- Infrared-absorbing glass and optical filter materials
- Erbium-ytterbium co-doped gain media for high-power fiber devices
Erbium has no known essential biological role and is considered a low-toxicity rare earth in normal material contexts.
- EDFA technology allowed long-distance fiber-optic signals to be amplified directly as light.
- Erbium’s 1550 nm emission matches a low-loss window of silica optical fiber.
- Er:YAG laser light is strongly absorbed by water, making it useful for precise tissue and dental applications.
- Ytterby is linked to the names of erbium, terbium, ytterbium and yttrium.
- Erbium has atomic number 68 and is a lanthanide.
- Its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹² 6s².
- The common oxidation state is +3.
- Remember erbium for EDFA telecom amplifiers and Er:YAG medical lasers.
What is the atomic number of erbium?
The atomic number of erbium is 68.
What is the electron configuration of erbium?
Erbium has the electron configuration [Xe] 4f¹² 6s².
What is erbium used for?
Erbium is used in fiber amplifiers, Er:YAG lasers, pink glass colorants, infrared-absorbing glass and optical materials.
What is an erbium-doped fiber amplifier?
An erbium-doped fiber amplifier, or EDFA, amplifies optical communication signals near 1550 nm.
What is an Er:YAG laser used for?
Er:YAG lasers are used in dentistry, dermatology and other procedures where water-rich tissue absorption is useful.
Why is erbium important for the internet?
Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers help boost long-distance fiber-optic signals without converting them back into electrical signals.