Ytterbium (Yb) – element 70
Ytterbium is a chemical element with the symbol Yb and atomic number 70. It is a lanthanide in group 3 (lanthanides), period 6 of the periodic table (f-block), and is a solid at room temperature.
Ytterbium (Yb) has atomic number 70, atomic mass 173.05 u and electron configuration [Xe] 4f14 6s2.
Ytterbium facts
| Symbol | Yb |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 70 |
| Atomic mass | 173.05 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 4f14 |
| Noble-gas notation | [Xe] 4f14 6s2 |
| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2 |
Bohr model and shells
Ytterbium has 70 electrons in 6 shells: 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 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 | 1097 K (823.9 °C) |
|---|---|
| Boiling point | 1469 K (1195.8 °C) |
| Density | 6.9 g/cm³ |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.1 |
| Electron affinity | -1.93 kJ/mol |
| Ionization energies | 603.4, 1174.8, 2417 kJ/mol (1st, 2nd, 3rd) |
| Molar heat capacity | 26.74 J/(mol·K) |
| Discovered by | Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac |
Use the atomic mass in the molar mass calculator for any formula containing Yb.
Position in the periodic table
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Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic mass of ytterbium?
The atomic mass of ytterbium is 173.05 u, so one mole of ytterbium atoms weighs 173.05 g.
What is the electron configuration of ytterbium?
Ytterbium has 70 electrons: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴, or [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s² in noble-gas notation. Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2.
Is ytterbium a metal?
Yes. Ytterbium is a lanthanide.
Where is ytterbium on the periodic table?
Ytterbium 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.