Element 62

Samarium (Sm)

Lanthanide · Period 6 · f-block

Samarium (Sm) is element 62 of the periodic table, a lanthanide in period 6 (f-block) with an atomic mass of 150.36 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
62
Symbol
Sm
Atomic mass
150.36 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 4f6 5s2 5p6 6s2
Shorthand configuration
[Xe] 4f6 6s2
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 18, 24, 8, 2
Oxidation states
+2, +3

Physical properties

Melting point
1345 K
Boiling point
2067 K
Density
7.52 g/cm3
Phase
solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
1.17
Atomic radius
238 pm
Covalent radius
198 pm
First ionization energy
545 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
50 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Sm-152151.9197326.75%Stable

Common uses

  • Magnets
  • Cancer treatment
  • Lasers
  • Nuclear reactor control

Discovery

Year
1879
Discovered by
Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran
Country
France

Keep exploring