Samarium

Samarium

Symbol	Sm
Atomic Number	62
Atomic Mass	150.36 g.mol -1
Discovered by	Paul-Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1879

Chemical Properties of Samarium

Table of Contents

• What is Samarium?
• Uses of Samarium
• Properties of Samarium
• What is Samarium?
• Certain Health Facts About Samarium
• Frequently asked questions

What is Samarium?

• Samarium is a chemical element with atomic number 62 and is represented by the symbol Sm in the Periodic Table.
•  It was discovered by Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran in the year 1879.

Uses of Samarium

• The most important application of Samarium is in Samarium-Cobalt magnets which have a very high permanent magnetisation. These magnets are used in headphones, small motors and musical instruments like guitars.
• This element is used in the manufacture of solar-powered electric aircraft.
• It is used in making special infrared absorbing glass and cores of carbon arc lamp electrodes.
• Acts as a catalyst in the ethanol dehydration process. It is also used in making new permanent magnets.

Properties of Samarium

• It is a silvery-white, rare earth metal having physical properties like hardness, similar to zinc.
• It is one of the most volatile elements among Lanthanides.
• Samarium and its compounds are paramagnetic at room temperature.
• It is the 40th most abundant element in earth’s crust and the 5th  most abundant element among Lanthanides.
• This element is most abundant in China, India, Brazil, the US, Australia and Sri Lanka and yearly production is estimated at 2 million tonnes.

Certain Health Facts About Samarium

• Samarium has no biological role and it is not that toxic. It is observed that some soluble salts are mildly toxic but cannot affect human life.