Erbium is a Block F, Group 3, Period 6 element. The electronic configuration is [Xe]4f¹²6s². In its elemental form erbium's CAS number is 7440-52-0. The erbium atom has a radius of 173.4.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is unknown. Erbium has application in glass coloring, as an amplifier in fiber optics, and in lasers for medical and dental use. Erbium is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder. The ion has a very narrow absorption band coloring erbium salts pink. It is therefore used in eyeware and decorative glassware. It can neutralize discoloring impurities such as ferric ions and produce a neutral gray shade. It is used in a variety of glass products for this purpose. It is particularly useful as an amplifier for fiber optic data transfer. The ion has a very narrow absorption band coloring erbium salts pink. It is therefore used in eyeware and decorative glassware. It can neutralize discoloring impurities such as ferric ions and produce a neutral gray shade.

Gadolinium is a Block F, Group 3, Period 6 element. The electronic configuration is [Xe]4f⁷5d¹6s². In its elemental form gadolinium's CAS number is 7440-54-2. The gadolinium atom has a radius of 178.7.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is unknown. Gadolinium is utilized for both its high magnetic moment (7.94µB) and in phosphors and scintillator material. When complexed with EDTA ligands, it is used as an injectable contrast agent for patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. Gadolinium is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder. Gadolinium is a Block F, Group 3, Period 6 element. The electronic configuration is [Xe]4f⁷5d¹6s². In its elemental form gadolinium's CAS number is 7440-54-2. The gadolinium atom has a radius of 178.7.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is unknown. Gadolinium is utilized for both its high magnetic moment (7.94µB) and in phosphors and scintillator material. When complexed with EDTA ligands, it is used as an injectable contrast agent for patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. Gadolinium is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder. With its high magnetic moment, gadolinium can reduce relaxation times and thereby enhance signal intensity. The extra stable half-full 4f electron shell with no low lying energy levels creates applications as an inert phosphor host. Gadolinium can therefore act as hosts for x-ray cassettes and in scintillator materials for computer tomography.

Vanadium is a Block D, Group 5, Period 4 element. The electronic configuration is [Ar] 3d³ 4s². In its elemental form vanadium's CAS number is 7440-62-2. The vanadium atom has a radius of 131.1.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 200.pm. Vanadium is highly resistant to corrosion, so it is commonly used to alloy stainless steel grades. Vanadium compounds are used in advanced ceramics. Vanadium is a petrochemical cracking catalyst. Vanadium is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder.

• Crystal "pulling" by the Czochaiski method for production of semiconductor materials
• Flux growth and gradient freeze
• Directional solidification of fluorites using both the Bridgman-Stockbarger and float zoning techniques