The Element Dysprosium


Dysprosium is also a rare earth element which is relatively stable in air and room temperature. This element can never be found as a free element under natural conditions but can be found in many minerals including xenotime, gadolinite, and fergusonite. Southern China has become the lead producer of Dysprosium.

Dysprosium is mainly used for making of laser materials. This is also used as nuclear control rods due to its high thermal neutron absorption cross-section and melting point. In the manufacturing of compact discs and magnetic resonance imaging, Dysprosium is used due to its paramagnetic characteristics.

Atomic Number & Chemical Properties


Element Basics:

Chemical Symbol: Dy
Atomic Number: 66
Atomic Weight: 162.50
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran
Date of Discovery: 1886 (France)
Origin of Name: Greek: dysprositos (hard to get at).

How to Recognize it at a Party:

Soft. lustrous, silvery metal

Seriously Atomic Information:

Density (g/cc): 8.55
Melting Point (°K): 1685
Boiling Point (°K): 2835
Atomic Radius (pm): 180
Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 19.0
Covalent Radius (pm): 159
Ionic Radius: 90.8 (+3e)
Pauling Negativity Number: n/a
First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 567
Oxidation States: 3
Electronic Configuration: [Xe] 4f10 6s2

Getting Intimate with Dysprosium:

Lattice Structure: Hexagonal (HEX)
Lattice Constant (Å): 3.590
Lattice C/A Ratio: 1.573
Specific Heat (@20°C J/g mol): 0.173
Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): n/a
Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 291
Thermal Conductivity (@25°C W/m K):
Debye Temperature (°K): n/a


Society's Questions About Dysprosium:

Have you ever wondered what everyone else in the world thinks about Dysprosium? Is anyone else looking for it too? If so, why? What do they want?

The following list shows the most common online questions about the element Dysprosium. Are your questions the same or different from everyone else's?

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