Gadolinium
Gadolinium (钆, symbol Gd) is chemical element number 64, a Lanthanide in period 6 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 157.25. Silvery rare earth. Used as MRI contrast agents and in some nuclear reactors.
Properties
| Atomic number | 64 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Gd |
| Atomic mass | 157.25 u |
| Category | Lanthanide |
| Period | 6 |
| Group | — |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6s² |
| Electronegativity | 1.2 |
| Covalent radius | 196 pm |
| Density | 7.895 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1585 K |
| Boiling point | 3546 K |
| Discovery | Jean Charles de Marignac, 1880 |
Overview
Silvery rare earth. Used as MRI contrast agents and in some nuclear reactors. Gadolinium (symbol Gd) is chemical element number 64, sitting in period 6 of the periodic table and classed as a Lanthanide. As a lanthanide (rare-earth) element it closely resembles its neighbours and serves in magnets, phosphors and catalysts.
With 2 electrons in its outermost shell, Gadolinium bonds accordingly; full configuration [Xe] 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6s², electronegativity 1.2. At room temperature it is normally a solid; it melts near 1585 K (1311.9 °C), boils near 3546 K (3272.9 °C), has a density around 7.895 g/cm³.
Common applications range across Medical / Pharma, Nuclear and Electronics / Semiconductors. It was first described by Jean Charles de Marignac in 1880. The periodic trends guide explains the underlying patterns.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 25 · 9 · 2
Main uses
- Medical / Pharma
- Nuclear
- Electronics / Semiconductors
Hazard
Compounds containing Gadolinium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Gadolinium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.