Definition

Noun: 1. A trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium: This is the chemical element with the symbol Er and atomic number 68. It is a silvery-white, soft, malleable metal belonging to the lanthanide series on the periodic table.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The laser was doped with atomic number 68 to produce a specific wavelength of light.
  • Scientists studied the magnetic properties of atomic number 68.
  • The sample contained traces of atomic number 68 along with other rare earth elements.

Advanced Usage

• In scientific and technical contexts: The term "atomic number 68" is primarily used in formal scientific, chemical, and materials engineering writing to specify the element unambiguously by its fundamental property (the number of protons in its nucleus).
  • The new alloy's composition includes atomic number 68 to enhance its neutron-absorption capabilities.

Variants and Related Words

• Erbium (Er): This is the common name for the element. "Atomic number 68" and "erbium" refer to the same substance, with "erbium" being the term used in most chemical and general contexts.
  • Erbium is used in fiber-optic amplifiers.
• Rare-earth element / Lanthanide: These are the categories to which erbium (atomic number 68) belongs.
  • Erbium is one of the seventeen rare-earth elements.

Synonyms

• Erbium: The direct and most common synonym.
  • The compound contains erbium (atomic number 68).

Notes on Meaning

• The term "atomic number 68" has only one specific meaning: it is the definitive identifier for the chemical element erbium. It is not used idiomatically or in phrasal verbs. Its usage is strictly confined to scientific and technical fields where precise elemental identification is required.

Noun

1. a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium