Gadolinium is a chemical element with the atomic number (Z) 64. Its atomic mass is 157.25 g/mol and it is represented by the symbol Gd. Gadolinium is a rare earth element of the lanthanide series in period 6 of the periodic table. Gadolinium is an f-block element. There are 64 electrons, 64 protons and 93 neutrons in the gadolinium atom. The electronic configuration of gadolinium is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 4f7 5d1 6s2. The oxidation states of gadolinium are 0, +1, +2, +3. And its electronegativity is 1.20 (Pauling scale). Gadolinium has 6 stable isotopes, Gd-154, Gd-155, Gd-156, Gd-157, Gd-158 and Gd-160.
At STP gadolinium is solid and has a density of 7.90 g/cm3. Its melting point is 1585 K ?(1312 °C, ?2394 °F) and its boiling point is 3273 K ?(3000 °C, ?5432 °F). Gadolinium was discovered by Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac in 1880 and isolated by French chemist Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1886. The element was named after Finnish mineralogist Johan Gadolin who discovered the mineral Gadolinite.
Gadolinium has a silvery-white appearance. At room temperature, it crystallizes forming hexagonal close-packed.
In the earth's crust, there is an estimated abundance of 6.2 mg/kg. Gadolinium can be found in minerals such as monazite and bastnäsite. Some traces can also be found in mineral gadolinite. The only rare mineral with an abundance of Gadolinium is lepersonnite-(Gd) which is very rare. The gadolinium element is too reactive and can not be found in the free state in nature. The major producer of gadolinium is China, the US, Brazil, Sri Lanka, India, and Australia.
There is no large scale application of Gadolinium.
Gadolinium-157 has a high neutron cross-section, which is used in tumors targeting in neutron therapy.
It can improve the resistance of iron and chromium to rust and high temperature by alloying.
Gadolinium-157 is used in nuclear reactors.
Gadolinium compounds are used in the formation of green phosphors which can be used in green phosphors.
When was gadolinium discovered?
Gadolinium was discovered by Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac in 1880 and was first isolated by French chemist Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1886.
What is gadolinium used for?
- Gadolinium-157 has a high neutron cross-section, which is used in tumors targeting in neutron therapy.
- It can improve the resistance of iron and chromium to rust and high temperature by alloying.
- Gadolinium-157 is used in nuclear reactors.
- Gadolinium compounds are used in the formation of green phosphors which can be used in green phosphors.
- Solutions of organic gadolinium complexes and gadolinium compounds are used to enhance Images in medical magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) procedures.
