
Dysprosium element (Dy) is in period 6 of a periodic table. Dysprosium is in the f-block and it is classified as a lanthanide on the periodic table.
There is a lot more information related to dysprosium which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.
So let’s dive right into it!
Table of contents
- Dysprosium element (Information Table)
- Dysprosium element in Periodic table
- Facts about Dysprosium
- Properties of Dysprosium
- Uses of Dysprosium
Dysprosium Element (Information Table)
The important data related to dysprosium element is given in the table below.
Appearance of dysprosium | Gray white metallic appearance |
Atomic number of dysprosium | 66 |
Symbol of dysprosium | Dy |
Atomic mass of dysprosium | 162.50 u |
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in dysprosium | Protons: 66, Neutrons: 97, Electrons: 66 |
State of dysprosium (at STP) | Solid |
Period number of dysprosium in periodic table | 6 |
Block of dysprosium in periodic table | f-block |
Category of dysprosium | Inner transition metals |
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in dysprosium | 2, 8, 18, 28, 8, 2 |
Electron configuration of dysprosium | [Xe] 4f10 6s2 |
Orbital diagram of dysprosium | ![]() |
Atomic radius of dysprosium (van der Waals radius) | 229 picometers |
Density of dysprosium | 8.55 g/cm3 |
1st ionization energy of dysprosium | 5.939 eV |
Main isotope of dysprosium | 164Dy |
Melting point of dysprosium | 1680 K or 1407 °C or 2565 °F |
Boiling point of dysprosium | 2840 K or 2562 °C or 4653 °F |
Crystal structure of dysprosium | Hexagonal Close Packing (HCP) |
Discovery of dysprosium | By Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1886 |
Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).
Dysprosium element in Periodic table
The Dysprosium element (Dy) has the atomic number 66 and is located in period 6. Dysprosium is a metal and it is classified as a lanthanide group element.
H | He | ||||||||||||||||
Li | Be | B | C | N | O | F | Ne | ||||||||||
Na | Mg | Al | Si | P | S | Cl | Ar | ||||||||||
K | Ca | Sc | Ti | V | Cr | Mn | Fe | Co | Ni | Cu | Zn | Ga | Ge | As | Se | Br | Kr |
Rb | Sr | Y | Zr | Nb | Mo | Tc | Ru | Rh | Pd | Ag | Cd | In | Sn | Sb | Te | I | Xe |
Cs | Ba | La* | Hf | Ta | W | Re | Os | Ir | Pt | Au | Hg | Tl | Pb | Bi | Po | At | Rn |
Fr | Ra | Ac** | Rf | Db | Sg | Bh | Hs | Mt | Ds | Rg | Cn | Nh | Fl | Mc | Lv | Ts | Og |
*Ce | Pr | Nd | Pm | Sm | Eu | Gd | Tb | Dy | Ho | Er | Tm | Yb | Lu | ||||
**Th | Pa | U | Np | Pu | Am | Cm | Bk | Cf | Es | Fm | Md | No | Lr |
Facts about dysprosium
Here are a few interesting facts about the dysprosium element.
- Lecoq de Boisbaudran discovered dysprosium in the year 1886.
- The name dysprosium was given from the Greek word “dysprositos” (which means “difficult to get at”).
- Dysprosium is not available from one place on the earth. But it is evenly spread on the earth.
- The earth’s crust contains about 6 ppm (by weight) of dysprosium.
- Monazite and bastnaesite are the most common minerals of dysprosium.
Properties of dysprosium
Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of dysprosium.
Physical properties of dysprosium
- Dysprosium has a gray white metallic appearance.
- Dysprosium is soft and it can be cut with a knife too.
- There are many isotopes of dysprosium, but out of those isotopes the most abundant is 164Dy.
- The crystal structure of dysprosium is HCP.
- Dysprosium has a density of 8.55 g/cm3 and its atomic mass is 162.50 amu.
- The melting point and boiling of dysprosium is 1680 K and 2840 K respectively.
Chemical properties of dysprosium
- Pure dysprosium starts tarnishing when it is kept open in the air.
- Dysprosium is a reactive element and it is always found with other compounds in the earth’s crust.
- Dysprosium has a most common oxidation state of +3.
- The electronic configuration of dysprosium is [Xe] 4f10 6s2, and it is a f-block element as the last electron enters the f-orbital.
Uses of dysprosium
Here are some uses of the dysprosium element.
- Dysprosium has a capacity to absorb the neutrons, hence it is used as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors.
- The alloy made by mixing dysprosium, terbium and iron is used in the sonar system.
- Dysprosium is also used in some devices like compact discs, hard drives, etc.
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