Sm
150.360Samarium
Samaryum
Samarium is a lanthanide with atomic number 62. It is important in samarium-cobalt magnets, neutron absorption, samarium-153 radiopharmaceuticals, SmI₂ organic synthesis and the Sm-Nd geological dating system.
62
150.36 g/mol
[Xe] 4f⁶ 6s²
2 | 8 | 18 | 24 | 8 | 2
1.17
7.52 g/cm³
1071.8 °C
1899.8 °C
Lecoq de Boisbaudran
Samarium was isolated in 1879 by Paul Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran from the mineral samarskite. The mineral name honors Vasili Samarsky-Bykhovets, making samarium one of the first elements named through a person’s name.
Samarium-144
Natural abundance: About 3.1%. Stable isotope of samarium.Samarium-147
Natural abundance: About 15.0%. Half-life: About 1.06 x 10¹¹ years. Alpha-emitting isotope used in Sm-Nd dating.Samarium-148
Natural abundance: About 11.2%. Half-life: About 6.3 x 10¹⁵ years. Extremely long-lived alpha-emitting isotope of samarium.Samarium-149
Natural abundance: About 13.8%. Very strong neutron absorber important in reactor physics.Samarium-150
Natural abundance: About 7.4%. Stable isotope of samarium.Samarium-152
Natural abundance: About 26.7%. Most abundant natural samarium isotope.Samarium-153
Half-life: About 46 hours. Beta-emitting medical radioisotope used in Sm-EDTMP.Samarium-154
Natural abundance: About 22.7%. Stable isotope of samarium.SmCo₅
Samarium-Cobalt MagnetHigh-temperature permanent magnet material.SmI₂
Samarium(II) IodideKagan reagent and one-electron reducing agent in organic synthesis.Sm₂O₃
Samarium(III) OxideNeutron absorber, glass additive and samarium magnet precursor.Sm-EDTMP
Samarium-153 EDTMPRadiopharmaceutical for bone pain palliation.- Samarium-cobalt permanent magnets for high-temperature motors, aerospace and defense systems
- Samarium-153 EDTMP radiopharmaceuticals for bone metastasis pain palliation
- Samarium(II) iodide, SmI₂, as a one-electron reducing reagent in organic synthesis
- Neutron absorption in nuclear reactor materials and samarium oxide control applications
- Sm-Nd isotope dating for ancient rocks, meteorites and lunar samples
Samarium has no essential biological role. Samarium-153 EDTMP has been used as a radiopharmaceutical for pain from bone metastases.
- Samarium-cobalt magnets keep useful magnetic performance at temperatures where many Nd-Fe-B magnets weaken.
- Samarium-149 is a nuclear reactor poison because it strongly absorbs neutrons.
- SmI₂ is famous in organic synthesis for enabling single-electron reductions and carbon-carbon bond formation.
- The Sm-Nd dating system helps determine ages of very old rocks and meteorites.
- Samarium has atomic number 62 and is a lanthanide.
- Its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f⁶ 6s².
- Common samarium chemistry is dominated by +3, but +2 chemistry is important in SmI₂.
- Remember SmCo magnets, Sm-153 medicine, SmI₂ reagent and Sm-Nd dating.
What is the atomic number of samarium?
The atomic number of samarium is 62.
What is the electron configuration of samarium?
Samarium has the electron configuration [Xe] 4f⁶ 6s².
What is samarium used for?
Samarium is used in samarium-cobalt magnets, neutron absorbers, SmI₂ synthesis chemistry, Sm-153 radiopharmaceuticals and isotope dating.
What are samarium-cobalt magnets?
Samarium-cobalt magnets are strong rare earth permanent magnets valued for high-temperature stability and corrosion resistance.
What is samarium-153 used for?
Samarium-153 EDTMP has been used to relieve pain from bone metastases by delivering beta radiation to affected bone regions.
What is SmI₂?
SmI₂ is samarium(II) iodide, a strong one-electron reducing reagent used in organic synthesis.