Periodic TableAll elementsHolmium
No. 067
Ho
164.93 u
Element · Lanthanide

Holmium

Holmium (钬, symbol Ho) is chemical element number 67, a Lanthanide in period 6 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 164.93. Has the highest magnetic permeability of any element. Used in surgical lasers.

Period 6Group —[Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s²

Properties

Atomic number67
SymbolHo
Atomic mass164.93 u
CategoryLanthanide
Period6
Group
Electron configuration[Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s²
Electronegativity1.23
Covalent radius192 pm
Density8.795 g/cm³
Melting point1734 K
Boiling point2993 K
DiscoverySoret, Delafontaine & Cleve, 1878

Overview

Has the highest magnetic permeability of any element. Used in surgical lasers. Holmium (Ho) holds position 67 in the periodic table, a Lanthanide in period 6. 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, Holmium bonds accordingly; full configuration [Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s², electronegativity 1.23. At room temperature it is normally a solid; it melts near 1734 K (1460.9 °C), boils near 2993 K (2719.9 °C), has a density around 8.795 g/cm³.

Common applications range across Research and Electronics / Semiconductors. It was first described by Soret, Delafontaine & Cleve in 1878. See more trends in the visualization center.

Electron shells

Ho67

Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 29 · 8 · 2

Main uses

Hazard

LowNo special hazard flags.

Compounds containing Holmium

No compounds in this knowledge base contain Holmium 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.