70 Yb 173.045

Ytterbium

lanthanide

Properties

Atomic number
70
Atomic mass
173.045 u
Category
lanthanide
Group
f-block
Period
6
Block
f-block
State (room temp)
Solid
Outer-shell electrons
2
Electronegativity
1.1 (Pauling)
Density
6.9 g/cm³
Melting point
823.85 °C
Boiling point
1195.85 °C

Electron configuration

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹⁰ 4p⁶ 5s² 4d¹⁰ 5p⁶ 6s² 4f¹⁴

Noble-gas shorthand: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s²

Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2, which is 2 in the outermost shell.

Related: electron configuration, the Bohr model, valence electrons.

Yb
Bohr model; outer-shell electrons in blue

About Ytterbium

Ytterbium is a chemical element with symbol Yb and atomic number 70. It is the fourteenth and penultimate element in the lanthanide series, which is the basis of the relative stability of its +2 oxidation state. However, like the other lanthanides, its most common oxidation state is +3, seen in its oxide, halides and other compounds.

Ytterbium: frequently asked questions

What is Ytterbium?
Ytterbium (Yb) is the chemical element with atomic number 70. It is a metal: specifically a lanthanide.
What is the atomic number of Ytterbium?
Ytterbium's atomic number is 70, which means every Ytterbium atom has 70 protons in its nucleus.
What is the electron configuration of Ytterbium?
The electron configuration of Ytterbium is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10 5p6 6s2 4f14 (noble-gas shorthand: [Xe] 4f14 6s2). Its electrons are arranged in shells of 2, 8, 18, 32, 8, 2, with 2 in the outermost shell.
Is Ytterbium a metal or a nonmetal?
Ytterbium is a metal: specifically a lanthanide.
What group and period is Ytterbium in?
Ytterbium sits in the f-block (the lanthanide row) of period 6 on the periodic table.
Is Ytterbium a solid, liquid, or gas?
At room temperature, Ytterbium is a solid.

Position in the periodic table

Open the interactive periodic table →

Data compiled from Wikipedia, PubChem, and IUPAC. Source.