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Element 64 - Gadolinium (Gd) sound

From the mineral gadolinite, named after a Finnish chemist; discovered 1880. Falling in the middle of the rare-earth series, gadolinium divideds the ligher metals, which tend to impart pliant qualities to alloys, from the heavier metals, used mostly as strengthening agents.

Properties

Atomic Number: 64
Atomic Weight: 157.25
Electron Configuration (at ground state): 1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d104f75s25p65d16s2
Oxidation States (Bold most stable): +3
Boiling Point (K): 3545
Melting Point (K): 1585
Density (at 300K -- g/cm3): 7.90
Atomic Volume (at 300K -- cm3/mol) 19.9
Number of stable isotopes: 7
Mass Number (Bold naturally occurring) -- Half-Life -- Disintigration Type: 150 -- 2.1 x 106 years -- alpha particle emission
Covalent Radius (Å): 1.61
Atomic Radius (Å): 1.80
First Ionization Potential (V): 6.15
Electronegativity (Pauling's): 1.20
Specific Heat Capacity (at 300K -- J g-1 K-1): 0.236
Heat of Vaporization (kJ/mol): 311.71
Heat of Fusion (kJ/mol): 15.48
Electrical Conductivity (at 293K for polycrystalline material -- 106 (ohms)-1 cm-1): 0.8
Thermal Conductivity (at 300K -- W m-1 K-1): 10.6
Crystal Structure: Hexagonal
Acid-Base Properties: Very basic