
Samarium element (Sm) is in period 6 of a periodic table. Samarium is in the f-block and it is classified as a lanthanide on the periodic table.
There is a lot more information related to samarium which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.
So let’s dive right into it!
Table of contents
- Samarium element (Information Table)
- Samarium element in Periodic table
- Facts about Samarium
- Properties of Samarium
- Uses of Samarium
Samarium Element (Information Table)
The important data related to samarium element is given in the table below.
Appearance of samarium | Silvery white |
Atomic number of samarium | 62 |
Symbol of samarium | Sm |
Atomic mass of samarium | 150.36 u |
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in samarium | Protons: 62, Neutrons: 88, Electrons: 62 |
State of samarium (at STP) | Solid |
Period number of samarium in periodic table | 6 |
Block of samarium in periodic table | f-block |
Category of samarium | Inner transition metals |
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in samarium | 2, 8, 18, 24, 8, 2 |
Electron configuration of samarium | [Xe] 4f6 6s2 |
Orbital diagram of samarium | ![]() |
Electronegativity of samarium (on pauling scale) | 1.17 |
Atomic radius of samarium (van der Waals radius) | 229 picometers |
Density of samarium | 7.35 g/cm3 |
1st ionization energy of samarium | 5.644 eV |
Main isotope of samarium | 152Sm |
Melting point of samarium | 1345 K or 1072 °C or 1962 °F |
Boiling point of samarium | 2173 K or 1900 °C or 3452 °F |
Crystal structure of samarium | Rhombohedral |
Discovery of samarium | By Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1879 |
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).
Samarium element in Periodic table
The Samarium element (Sm) has the atomic number 62 and is located in period 6. Samarium 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 samarium
Here are a few interesting facts about the samarium element.
- Samarium was given its name from the name of its ore “samarskite”.
- Lecoq de Boisbaudran was the chemist who discovered samarium in 1879.
- The concentration of samarium in the earth’s crust is around 6 ppm by weight.
- Samarium is the 40th most abundant element present in the earth’s crust.
Properties of samarium
Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of samarium.
Physical properties of samarium
- Samarium has a silvery-gray metallic appearance.
- Samarium has many isotopes and the most abundant isotope is 152Sm.
- The density of samarium is 7.35 g/cm3 and its atomic mass is 150.36 amu.
- The melting point and boiling point of samarium is 1345 K and 2173 K respectively.
- Samarium has a rhombohedral crystal structure.
Chemical properties of samarium
- Samarium is reactive and it tarnishes easily if kept open in the air.
- Samarium metal starts to ignite when it is heated in the air at the temperature of 150 °C.
- Samarium is a reactive metal and so it is found in a compound form with other elements.
- The most common oxidation state of samarium is +3.
- Samarium has an electron configuration of [Xe] 4f6 6s2 and it is classified as a f-block element on the periodic table because of the last electron entering in the f-orbitals.
Uses of samarium
Here are some uses of the samarium element.
- Samarium is used in carbon arc lighting which is used in studio lighting.
- Samarium is also used as a neutron absorber in nuclear power plants.
- Samarium is also used in manufacturing of optical lasers as well as glasses that can absorb infrared rays.
- Samarium and cobalt are alloyed with each other to make magnets.
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