Ytterbium: meaning, definitions and examples

The name 'ytterbium' comes from the town of Ytterby in Sweden, where several rare earth elements were first discovered in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Ytterbium was discovered in 1878 by the Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac, who isolated it from the mineral gadolinite. The element was named after Ytterby to maintain a connection to its origins. In 1906, ytterbium was further isolated by the American chemist William H. McMurray through the process of fractional crystallization. The significance of ytterbium lies in its unique properties and applications, particularly in materials science and electronics, showcasing the rich history of the study of lanthanide elements.

Ranking #35,119, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

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• 35119 ytterbium
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