Ho
164.930Holmium
Holmiyum
Holmium is a lanthanide with atomic number 67. It is known for Ho:YAG medical lasers, neutron absorption, strong magnetic behavior, holmium oxide and monoisotopic holmium-165.
67
164.93 g/mol
[Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s²
2 | 8 | 18 | 29 | 8 | 2
1.23
8.795 g/cm³
1460.8 °C
2719.8 °C
Marc Delafontaine
Holmium was discovered in 1878 in rare earth fractions associated with Ytterby minerals. Per Teodor Cleve named it after Holmia, the Latin name for Stockholm.
Holmium-165
Natural abundance: 100%. The only stable natural holmium isotope.Ho₂O₃
Holmium(III) OxideNeutron absorber, glass colorant and precursor for holmium laser materials.Ho:YAG
Holmium-Doped YAGMedical laser crystal emitting near 2.1 micrometers.HoCl₃
Holmium(III) ChlorideResearch precursor for holmium chemistry.- Ho:YAG lasers for urinary stone lithotripsy, prostate surgery and precise tissue cutting
- Holmium oxide and holmium compounds as neutron absorbers in reactor control materials
- Magnetic materials research because holmium has very strong magnetic properties
- Holmium-doped garnets and crystals in specialized lasers and microwave devices
- Calibration and spectroscopy applications using holmium oxide glass filters
Holmium has no known essential biological role and is generally studied as a rare earth material rather than a biological element.
- Ho:YAG lasers are widely used in urology for fragmenting kidney and urinary stones.
- Holmium is often cited among the elements with the strongest magnetic moments.
- Natural holmium is monoisotopic, consisting of holmium-165.
- The name Holmium preserves the Latin name for Stockholm.
- Holmium has atomic number 67 and is a lanthanide.
- Its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s².
- The common oxidation state is +3.
- Remember Ho:YAG laser for lithotripsy and holmium-165 for monoisotopic natural holmium.
What is the atomic number of holmium?
The atomic number of holmium is 67.
What is the electron configuration of holmium?
Holmium has the electron configuration [Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s².
What is holmium used for?
Holmium is used in Ho:YAG medical lasers, neutron absorbers, magnetic materials, spectroscopy standards and research compounds.
What is a Ho:YAG laser used for?
Ho:YAG lasers are used in medical procedures such as urinary stone lithotripsy and soft-tissue surgery.
Does holmium have stable isotopes?
Yes. Natural holmium consists of stable holmium-165.
Why is holmium magnetically interesting?
Holmium has very strong magnetic behavior because of its 4f electrons, making it useful in magnetic materials research.