Gadolinium

Element 64 on the periodic table, symbol Gd, group 3, period 6.

Gadolinium is a chemical element with symbol Gd and atomic number 64. It is a silvery-white, malleable and ductile rare-earth metal. It is found in nature only in combined (salt) form.

Appearance: silvery white

Properties

Atomic Number: 64
Atomic Mass: 157.2530 u
Group: 3
Period: 6
Block: f-block
Category: Lanthanide
State at 25 °C: Solid
Melting Point: 1,585 K · 1,311.9 °C
Boiling Point: 3,273 K · 2,999.9 °C
Density: 7.9 g/cm³
Atomic Radius: 180 pm
Electronegativity: 1.2
Oxidation States: +3
Abundance in Crust: 6.2 mg/kg
Discovered: 1880
Discovered By: Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac

Electron Configuration

[Xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f7 5d1

Ionisation Energies (kJ/mol)

1. 593.4
2. 1,170
3. 1,990
4. 4,250

Elements near Gadolinium

Elements in the same group share the number of outer electrons and behave in similar ways. Elements in the same period share a shell, so they change steadily from left to right.