Europium

grey ingots

Europium atom is a lanthanoid atom and a f-block element atom.|An element of the rare earth family of metals. It has the atomic symbol Eu, atomic number 63, and atomic weight 152. Europium is used in the form of its salts as coatings for cathode ray tubes and in the form of its organic derivatives as shift reagents in NMR spectroscopy.

Europium, named after the continent of Europe, is mainly used for its phosphorescence. Excitation of the Europium atom by absorption of ultra violet radiation can result in specific energy level transitions within the atom creating an emission of visible radiation.
It is a dopant in some types of glass in lasers and other optoelectronic devices. Europium Oxide (Eu2O3) is widely used as a red phosphor in television sets and fluorescent lamps, and as an activator for Yttrium-based phosphors.
In energy efficient fluorescent lighting, Europium provides not only the necessary red, but also the blue. Several commercial blue phosphors are based on Europium for color TV, computer screens and fluorescent lamps.
Its luminescence is also valuable in medical, surgical and biochemical applications.
Europium is used for the capture of thermal neutrons for nuclear control rods in atomic power stations. Thermal neutron absorption of the natural mixture of europium isotopes is 4,600 barns. While its salts are used in coatings for cathode ray tubes in color televisions, organoderivatives are used in NMR spectroscopy.

Neutron absorber in nuclear control, color-TV phosphors to activate yttrium, phosphors in postagestamp glues to permit electronic recognition of firstclass mail. There are only a few commercial uses for europium. Europium oxide, (Eu
2
O
3
), a compoundof europium, is added to infra-sensitive phosphors to enhance the red colors on TVand computer-monitor picture tubes. It is also added to fluorescent light tubes to increasetheir efficiency, as well as to some materials to make lasers. Since it is a good neutron absorber,it is part of nuclear reactor control rods. Europium is an additive to the glue used on postagestamps, thus making it possible for the electronic sorting machines in U.S. postal offices to“read” the stamps.

Molecular Weight:151.964
Exact Mass:152.92124
Monoisotopic Mass:152.92124
Heavy Atom Count:1
Covalently-Bonded Unit Count:1
Compound Is Canonicalized:Yes