Gadolinium

Gadolinium is a chemical element with the symbol Gd and atomic number 64. It is a silvery-white, malleable and ductile rare-earth metal. Gadolinium is found in nature only in combined (salt) form. It is used for its strong magnetic properties, high neutron absorption cross-section, and its ability to enhance the relaxivity of protons in MRI scans.

Overview

English Name:

Gadolinium

Latin Name:

Gadolinium

Year Discovered:

1880

Discovered By:

Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac

Group:

Period:

Electrons:

CAS Number:

7440-54-2

Cost Per 100 Grams:

$50

Atomic Properties

Electronic Configuration:

[Xe] 6s² 4f⁷ 5d¹

Ion Charge:

Ionisation Energies:

593.4 kJ/mol

Atomic Radius (Empirical):

180 pm

Atomic Radius (Calculated):

169 pm

Covalent Radius:

196 pm

Van Der Waals Radius:

N/A

Ionisation Potential of An Atom:

6.15 eV

Electrons Per Layer:

2, 8, 18, 25, 9, 2

Atomic Multiplicities Of The Gas:

Atomic Weight:

157.25

Oxidation States

Reactivity

Electron Affinity:

50 kJ/mol

Valence:

Electronegativity:

1.2

Thermal Properties

Melting Point:

1313°C

Boiling Point:

3273°C

Critical Point:

Pressure: N/A

Temperature: N/A

Thermal Conductivity:

10.6 W/(m·K)

Heat Capacity:

Specific: 0.24 J/(g·K)

Molar: 37.03 J/(mol·K)

Thermal Coefficient:

0.000011

Enthalpy:

Fusion: 10.1 kJ/mol

Vaporisation: 302 kJ/mol

Atomization: 378 kJ/mol

Curie Temperature:

20°C

Neel Temperature:

N/A

Superconductivity Point:

N/A

Physical and Chemical Properties

State of matter (25° C/ 77°F):

Solid

Density:

Solid: 7.901 g/cm³

Molar Volume (Vmol):

19.9 cm³/mol

Speed of Sound (Vs):

N/A

Hardness:

1.2

Bulk Modulus (K):

38 GPa

Shear Modulus (G):

22.5 GPa

Young's Modulus (E):

55 GPa

Color:

Silvery white

Brinell Hardness (MPa):

686

Liquid Density (Kg/m^3):

7.4 g/cm³

Hardness of Mohs:

1.2

Refractive Index:

N/A

Vickers Hardness (MPa):

686

Crystal Structure:

Hexagonal

Electromagnetic Properties

Electrical Type:

Conductor

Resistivity:

1.0 × 10^-7 Ω·m

Magnetic Type:

Paramagnetic

Superconductivity:

Not applicable

Volume Magnetic Susceptibility:

2.7 × 10^-4

Mass Magnetic Susceptibility:

3.4 × 10^-9 m³/kg

Molar Mass Susceptibility:

5.4 × 10^-7 m³/mol

Electrical Conductivity:

1.0 × 10^7 S/m

Mass (γ_mass):

4.05 × 10^-26 kg

Mass (γ_mol):

4.05 × 10^-23 mol

Volume (γ_vol):

19.9 L

Grid Parameters

Crystal Structure:

Hexagonal

Grid Parameters:

a = 362.4 pm, c = 573.4 pm

Attitude:

c/a = 1.583

Debye Temperature:

N/A

Safety and Precautions

Signal Word:

Warning

Hazard Statements:

H261

Precautionary Statements:

P223, P231 + P232, P280, P335 + P334, P370 + P378

RTECS Number:

Not available

Risk:

Flammability: Flammable
Health Risk: Irritant
Reactivity: Stable
Specific Risk: Reacts with water

Importance

Main sources:

Monazite, bastnäsite

Main Usage:

MRI contrast agent, nuclear reactors, lasers

Nuclear Properties

Radioactive:

Isotopes:

Gd-152, Gd-154, Gd-155, Gd-156, Gd-157, Gd-158, Gd-160

Neutron Cross Sectional:

49,700 barns

Half Life (s):

None

Lifetime:

Stable

Prevalence

Universe:

0.00007%

Sun:

0.00007%

Oceans:

0.000000009%

Humans:

0.00000002%

Earth's Crust:

0.0006%

Meteorites:

0.0006%