What is Ytterbium?
Ytterbium is a metallic chemical element which is classified in the rare earth metals, also known as lanthanides. The element has several industrial uses, but it is relatively rare for individual consumers to interact with it directly. It occurs primarily in minerals like monazite, xenotime, and gaolinite, often in combination with other useful rare earth metals. These minerals are often found in Scandinavia. When ytterbium is isolated, it is a bright silvery white color. The metal is extremely malleable, and it reacts weakly with water. The element also oxidizes rapidly when exposed to air; most people store it in airtight containers or suspended in mineral oil to prevent oxidation. The element is identified with the symbol Yb on the periodic table of elements, and it has an atomic number of 70. It is also allotropic, meaning that it can have different crystalline structures in the same form, like carbon. Three allotropic forms of ytterbium are known. The discovery of ytterbium is usu
