What are 3 uses for erbium?
Uses of Erbium
This metal is used to colour the lenses of glasses. It is also used in the control rods of nuclear reactors. It has a vital application in the production of metal alloys. Erbium ion’s unique wavelength aids laser surgery.
What is erbium most commonly used for?
The oxide erbia is used as a pink coloring agent in glazes and glasses. Erbium is used in alloys especially with vanadium to decrease the hardness of metals. It is also used in amplifiers and lasers. Erbium is used in photographic filters to absorb infrared light.
What is the most common isotope of erbium?
166Er
Naturally occurring erbium (68Er) is composed of 6 stable isotopes, with 166Er being the most abundant (33.503% natural abundance).
What is the characteristics of erbium?
Erbium is a soft, malleable, lustrous, silvery metal. It is very stable in air, it reacts very slowly with oxygen and water and dissolves in acids. Its salts are rose coloured and it has a sharp adsorption spectra in visible, ultraviolet and infrared light.
Why is it called erbium?
The name derives from the Swedish town of Ytterby, where the ore gadolinite (in which it was found) was first mined. Erbium was discovered by the Swedish surgeon and chemist Carl-Gustav Mosander in 1843 in a yttrium sample.
Why is erbium used in lasers?
Erbium lasers use lower energy, and this makes for less heat. The corollary to this is that there is less damage to the surrounding tissue. The erbium laser causes less swelling, redness, and bruising than CO2 lasers.
What are 5 interesting facts about erbium?
Facts about Erbium
- Erbium symbol is ‘Er,’ and the atomic number is 68.
- The metallic Erbium did not get isolated until the year 1935.
- The radioactive isotopes of this element are very unstable.
- The boiling point of pure Erbium is 5,194 F (2,868 C ).
- The melting point of pure Erbium is 2,784 F (1,529 C ).
Where is erbium commonly found?
Erbium is found principally in the minerals monazite and bastnaesite. It can be extracted by ion exchange and solvent extraction.
How is erbium used in everyday life?
Erbium finds little use as a metal because it slowly tarnishes in air and is attacked by water. When alloyed with metals such as vanadium, erbium lowers their hardness and improves their workability. Erbium oxide is occasionally used in infrared absorbing glass, for example safety glasses for welders and metal workers.
What type of laser is erbium?
Erbium uses the YAG laser. YAG is abbreviated from: neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet). The erbium treatment device emits an infrared light that measures from 1,064 to 2,940 nanometres in wavelength.
Is erbium toxic to humans?
Erbium is slightly toxic if ingested, but erbium compounds are not toxic. Metallic erbium in dust form presents a fire and explosion hazard.
What is better CO2 or erbium?
CO2 Laser is more effective than Erbium laser for improving deeper skin textural issues like acne scars.
How does the Erbium laser work?
The Erbium laser emits light that is absorbed by water as the light hits the skin. The tissue that contains water is vaporized. The excess heat in the area that is generated by the laser results in collagen shrinkage and stimulates the formation of collagen which will tighten the skin further.
How does an erbium laser work?
What is the difference between erbium and CO2?
What is the difference between CO2 and Erbium lasers? The CO2 lasers create more heat during the laser treatment. By doing so, the skin is tightened and texture improves as it heals. Erbium lasers are less aggressive – recovery time is shorter, and there is less redness.
What kind of laser is erbium?