Definition

Noun: 1. A chemical element: Samarium is a silvery-white, moderately hard, metallic element belonging to the lanthanide series (rare earth group) on the periodic table. It has the symbol Sm and atomic number 62. 2. A material with specific applications: Due to its magnetic and neutron-absorbing properties, samarium is used in specialized industrial and technological contexts, such as in permanent magnets, certain alloys, and as a control material in nuclear reactors.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The chemist isolated a sample of pure samarium for the experiment.
  • Magnets made from a samarium-cobalt alloy are very powerful and heat-resistant.
  • The mineral monazite is a primary source for samarium.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Context: In scientific literature, samarium is often discussed for its specific isotopes (e.g., Samarium-147, which is used in radiometric dating) and its unique electronic configuration.
  • The study focused on the magnetic properties of samarium at low temperatures.

Variants and Related Words

• Samarium-cobalt (adj/n): Referring to a powerful type of permanent magnet made from an alloy of samarium and cobalt.
  • The motor uses a samarium-cobalt magnet for high efficiency.
• Samarium(III) oxide (n): A common chemical compound of samarium (Sm₂O₃), used in optics and ceramics.

Synonyms

• Element 62: Referring to its atomic number.
• Sm: Its chemical symbol (used primarily in formulas and technical contexts).

Related Phrases / Terms

• Rare earth element: The category to which samarium belongs.
• Lanthanide: The specific series within the periodic table that includes samarium.

Noun

1. a grey lustrous metallic element of the rare earth group; is used in special alloys; occurs in monazite and bastnasite