Holmium Facts for Kids

Holmium is a special type of chemical element with the symbol Ho and atomic number 67. Think of elements as the basic building blocks of everything around us! Holmium is part of a group called the lanthanide series. It's a soft, shiny, silvery-white metal. You might be surprised, but it stays stable in dry air at room temperature. Holmium is also known as a rare earth metal. You can find it in certain minerals like monazite and gadolinite.

Poor metals

Metalloids

Other nonmetals

Halogens

Noble gases

What is Holmium?
- Where is Holmium Found?
  - The Lanthanide Family
How is Holmium Used?
Who Discovered Holmium?
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What is Holmium?

Holmium is one of the 118 known chemical elements on Earth. Each element has its own unique properties. Holmium is a metal, which means it can conduct electricity and heat well. It also has a shiny look. It's a silvery-white color, similar to aluminum or silver.

Where is Holmium Found?

Holmium is not found by itself in nature. Instead, it is part of different rocks and minerals. It is often found with other rare earth metals. Two minerals where you can find holmium are monazite and gadolinite. These minerals are mined from the ground in various parts of the world.

The Lanthanide Family

Holmium belongs to a special group of elements called the lanthanide series. These elements are often called "rare earth metals." They are not actually very rare, but they are spread out and hard to find in large amounts. Lanthanides have similar chemical properties. This means they act alike in many ways.

How is Holmium Used?

Holmium has some interesting uses, even if it's not as common as iron or copper.

Special Magnets

Holmium is known for its strong magnetic properties. It can become very magnetic at low temperatures. Because of this, it is used in some special magnets. These magnets are important for certain scientific experiments. They also help in making very strong magnetic fields.

Coloring Glass and Crystals

Holmium can give a beautiful color to glass and crystals. When holmium is added to glass, it can make it look pink or yellow. This is because of how holmium atoms interact with light. This property is used in some types of filters. It is also used in special calibration tools. These tools help make sure scientific instruments are working correctly.

A solution of 4% holmium oxide in 10% perchloric acid, permanently fused into a quartz cuvette as an optical calibration standard

Medical Uses

Holmium is also used in some medical treatments. For example, it can be found in certain types of lasers. These lasers are used in surgery. They can help doctors perform precise operations. This shows how a rare element can have important real-world applications.

Who Discovered Holmium?

Holmium was discovered by a Swedish chemist named Per Teodor Cleve. He found it in 1878. Cleve was studying other rare earth minerals. He noticed some new substances in them. He named the new element "Holmium" after "Holmia," which is the Latin name for Stockholm, Sweden.