A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table

113

Lanthanides

Samarium

Sm

62

Europium

Eu

63

This element is named after the mineral

samarskite from which it was first purified.

However, another lanthanide-rich mineral called

monazite is the main source of this element today.

Samarium is mixed with cobalt to make permanent

magnets that are often used in electric guitars.

62

63

62

63

88

89

State: Solid

Discovery: 1879

State: Solid

Discovery: 1901

This silver y white metal

darkens on contact with air.

These pickups (components

that sense vibrations produced

by guitar strings) are made of

samarium-cobalt magnets.

The cr ystals of this

yellowish metal often

have patches of dark oxides.

Lab

orato

ry sample^ of^ pure (^) eur
op
iu
m
Laboratory
sample
(^) of (^) p
ure (^) s
ama
rium
Guit
ar^ pic
kups
Europium was named after the continent
of Europe. However, most of the world’s supply
of the element comes from the USA and China, where
the mineral bastnasite is mined for the extraction of pure
europium. A compound called europium oxide is used
in euro and British bank notes. When placed under
ultraviolet (UV) light, the compound gives off a red glow.
This red glow
proves this
note is real.
Section of British note under UV light
112-113_Neodymium_Promethium_Samarium_Europium.indd 113 02/12/16 10:05 pm