Yes. Erbium is a metal, classified as a lanthanide on the periodic table.

How many protons does erbium have?

Erbium has 68 protons. Its atomic number is 68, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of erbium.

What group and period is erbium in?

Erbium is in period 6 of the periodic table. As a lanthanide in the f-block, it sits in a separate row below the main table and has no standard group number.

What is the atomic mass of erbium?

The atomic mass of erbium is 167.26 u (unified atomic mass units).

Element 68

Erbium (Er)

Lanthanide · Period 6 · f-block

Erbium (Er) is element 68 of the periodic table, a lanthanide in period 6 (f-block) with an atomic mass of 167.26 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number: 68
Symbol: Er
Atomic mass: 167.26 u
Category: Lanthanides
Period: 6
Block: f-block
Phase at STP: solid

Electron structure

Electron configuration: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f12 5s2 5p6 6s2
Shorthand configuration: [Xe] 4f12 6s2
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 18, 30, 8, 2
Oxidation states: +2, +3

Physical properties

Melting point: 1,802 K (1,528.85 °C)
Boiling point: 3,141 K (2,867.85 °C)
Density: 9.066 g/cm³
Phase: solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling): 1.24
Atomic radius: 226 pm
Covalent radius: 189 pm
First ionization energy: 589 kJ/mol
Electron affinity: 50 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

Notable isotopes of Erbium: mass number, atomic mass, natural abundance, and stability.
Isotope	Mass	Abundance	Stability
Er-166	165.9303	33.61%	Stable

Common uses

Fiber optic amplifiers
Lasers
Glass coloring
Metallurgy

Discovery

Year: 1843
Discovered by: Carl Gustaf Mosander
Country: Sweden

Frequently asked questions

Is erbium a metal?: Yes. Erbium is a metal, classified as a lanthanide on the periodic table.
How many protons does erbium have?: Erbium has 68 protons. Its atomic number is 68, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of erbium.
What group and period is erbium in?: Erbium is in period 6 of the periodic table. As a lanthanide in the f-block, it sits in a separate row below the main table and has no standard group number.
What is the atomic mass of erbium?: The atomic mass of erbium is 167.26 u (unified atomic mass units).

Keep exploring

Erbium's row is on the printable element property sheet, and its tile is on the periodic table wall chart - the same numbers as above, laid out for A4 or A3 paper.