Atomic Properties of Gd
- Atomic Number of Gd
- 64
- Atomic Mass of Gd
- 157.2500 u
- Electron Configuration
- [Xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2
- Electronegativity
- 1.20
- Block
- f-block
- Group
- —
- Period
- 6
Gadolinium (Gd) is element 64 on the periodic table. Atomic mass of Gd: 157.2500 u. Gd is in period 6. Melting point of Gd: 1585.00 K.Density of Gd: 7.90 g/cm³.
Gadolinium in everyday life and industry
Gadolinium contrast agents enhance MRI images
Discovered by Jean de Marignac in Switzerland, 1880
Name origin: Named after the mineral gadolinite.
Silvery lanthanide with remarkable magnetic properties—ferromagnetic below 20°C (Curie point). Seven stable isotopes. Gd-155 and Gd-157 have the highest neutron capture cross-sections of any stable nuclides (~61,000 and ~254,000 barns). Named after gadolinite mineral, honoring Johan Gadolin. Discovered 1880 by Marignac.
Gadolinium has 7 naturally occurring isotopes, plus 1 notable radioactive isotope.
| Isotope | Atomic Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-Life | Decay Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15264Gd (Gd-152)Gadolinium-152 isotope | 151.9197995 | 0.2000% | — | — |
| 15364Gd (Gd-153)Gadolinium-153 isotope | 152.9217653 | 0% | 240.4 days | EC |
| 15464Gd (Gd-154)Gadolinium-154 isotope | 153.9208741 | 2.180% | — | — |
| 15564Gd (Gd-155)Gadolinium-155 isotope | 154.9226305 | 14.80% | — | — |
| 15664Gd (Gd-156)Gadolinium-156 isotope | 155.9221312 | 20.47% | — | — |
| 15764Gd (Gd-157)Gadolinium-157 isotope | 156.9239686 | 15.65% | — | — |
| 15864Gd (Gd-158)Gadolinium-158 isotope | 157.9241123 | 24.84% | — | — |
| 16064Gd (Gd-160)Gadolinium-160 isotope | 159.9270624 | 21.86% | — | — |
Data source: NIH PubChem (aggregated from IUPAC, NIST)
Isotopes of Gadolinium have important real-world applications in science and industry.
The addition of 157Gd to Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT) has been shown to be more effective at targeting tumors than the previous method of using only 10B for the treatment (Fig. IUPAC.64.2) [453]. 153Gd (with a half-life of 0.66 years) is used in the production of photon line sources (an optical source that emits one or more spectrally narrow lines as opposed to a continuous spectrum) to manufacture 153Gd line sources [454]. 153Gd is also used as a photon source of the dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) technique that is used to measure bone mineral content (BMC). Studies for this technique have been conducted in horses and humans [455], [456].
Used in steel alloying agents and the manufacture of electronic components.
Found with other rare earths in gadolinite and monazite sand.
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