Gadolinium (Gd) – element 64
Gadolinium is a chemical element with the symbol Gd and atomic number 64. It is a lanthanide in group 3 (lanthanides), period 6 of the periodic table (f-block), and is a solid at room temperature.
Gadolinium (Gd) has atomic number 64, atomic mass 157.25 u and electron configuration [Xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2.
Gadolinium facts
| Symbol | Gd |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 64 |
| Atomic mass | 157.25 u (g/mol) |
| Category | lanthanide |
| Group | group 3 (lanthanides) |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | f-block |
| Phase at 20 °C | Solid |
| Electron configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f7 5d1 |
| Noble-gas notation | [Xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 25, 9, 2 |
Bohr model and shells
Gadolinium has 64 electrons in 6 shells: 2, 8, 18, 25, 9, 2. Full configuration and noble-gas notation are in the table; work out any element or ion with the electron configuration calculator.
Physical and atomic properties
| Melting point | 1585 K (1311.8 °C) |
|---|---|
| Boiling point | 3273 K (2999.8 °C) |
| Density | 7.9 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.2 |
| Electron affinity | 13.22 kJ/mol |
| Ionization energies | 593.4, 1170, 1990 kJ/mol (1st, 2nd, 3rd) |
| Molar heat capacity | 37.03 J/(mol·K) |
| Discovered by | Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac |
Use the atomic mass in the molar mass calculator for any formula containing Gd.
Position in the periodic table
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Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic mass of gadolinium?
The atomic mass of gadolinium is 157.25 u, so one mole of gadolinium atoms weighs 157.25 g.
What is the electron configuration of gadolinium?
Gadolinium has 64 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f⁷ 5d¹, or [Xe] 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6s² in noble-gas notation. Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 25, 9, 2.
Is gadolinium a metal?
Yes. Gadolinium is a lanthanide.
Where is gadolinium on the periodic table?
Gadolinium is in group 3 (lanthanides), period 6, in the f-block.
Data: Periodic-Table-JSON (CC BY-SA 3.0); standard atomic weights from IUPAC (abridged). Values in brackets are the mass number of the longest-lived isotope.