Characteristic

 

Gadolinium is a chemical element with the symbol Gd and atomic number 64. Gadolinium is a silvery-white metal when oxidation is removed. It is only slightly malleable and is a ductile rare-earth element.

Phase at STP： solid

Melting point： 1585 K (1312 °C, 2394 °F)

Boiling point： 3273 K (3000 °C, 5432 °F)

Density (near r.t.)： 7.90 g/cm³

when liquid (at m.p.)： 7.4 g/cm³

Heat of fusion： 10.05 kJ/mol

Heat of vaporization： 301.3 kJ/mol

Molar heat capacity： 37.03 J/(mol·K)

 

Application

 

Gadolinium as a metal or a salt absorbs neutrons and is, therefore, used sometimes for shielding in neutron radiography and in nuclear reactors.

Like most of the rare earths, gadolinium forms trivalent ions with fluorescent properties, and salts of gadolinium(III) are used as phosphors in various applications.