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

How many protons does samarium have?

Samarium has 62 protons. Its atomic number is 62, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of samarium.

What group and period is samarium in?

Samarium 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 samarium?

The atomic mass of samarium is 150.36 u (unified atomic mass units).

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: 1,345 K (1,071.85 °C)
Boiling point: 2,067 K (1,793.85 °C)
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

Notable isotopes of Samarium: mass number, atomic mass, natural abundance, and stability.
Isotope	Mass	Abundance	Stability
Sm-152	151.91973	26.75%	Stable

Common uses

Magnets
Cancer treatment
Lasers
Nuclear reactor control

Discovery

Year: 1879
Discovered by: Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran
Country: France

Frequently asked questions

Is samarium a metal?: Yes. Samarium is a metal, classified as a lanthanide on the periodic table.
How many protons does samarium have?: Samarium has 62 protons. Its atomic number is 62, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of samarium.
What group and period is samarium in?: Samarium 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 samarium?: The atomic mass of samarium is 150.36 u (unified atomic mass units).

Keep exploring

Samarium'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.