Page 115 - The Periodic Table Book

62
Sm Samarium

62 62 88 State: Solid
Discovery: 1879
This element is named after the mineral Guitar pickups
samarskite from which it was first purified.
However, another lanthanide-rich mineral called Lanthanides
monazite is the main source of this element today.
Samarium is mixed with cobalt to make permanent
magnets that are often used in electric guitars.

This silvery white metal These pickups (components
darkens on contact with air. that sense vibrations produced
by guitar strings) are made of
samarium-cobalt magnets.

Laboratory sample of pure samarium

63
Eu Europium

State: Solid
63 63 89 Discovery: 1901

Europium was named after the continent
of Europe. However, most of the world’s supply
Laboratory sample of pure europium
of the element comes from the USA and China, where
the mineral bastnasite is mined for the extraction of pure
europium. A compound called europium oxide is used
in euro and British bank notes. When placed under
ultraviolet (UV) light, the compound gives off a red glow.

This red glow
proves this
note is real.

The crystals of this
yellowish metal often
have patches of dark oxides. Section of British note under UV light 113

112-113_Neodymium_Promethium_Samarium_Europium.indd 113 02/12/16 10:05 pm