Holmium information, including Technical Data, Safety Data and its high purity properties, research, applications and other useful facts are discussed below. Scientific facts such as the atomic structure, ionization energy, abundance on Earth, conductivity and thermal properties are included.
 Holmium has the highest magnetic moment (10.6µB) of any naturally occurring element. Because of this it has been used to create the highest known magnetic fields by placing it within high strength magnets as a pole piece or magnetic flux concentrator. This magnetic property also has value in yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) lasers for microwave equipment. Holmium 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. Holmium lases at a human eye safe 2.08 microns allowing its use in a variety of medical and dental applications in both yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) and yttrium-lanthanum-fluoride (YLF) solid state lasers. The wavelength allows for use in silica fibers designed for shorter wavelengths while still providing the cutting strength of longer wave length equipment.
Holmium facts, including appearance, CAS #, and molecular formula and safety data, research and properties are
available for many specific states, forms and shapes on the product pages listed to the left. Elemental or metallic forms include pellets, rod, wire and granules for evaporation source material purposes. Nanoparticles and nanopowders provide ultra high surface area which nanotechnology research and recent experiments demonstrate function to create new and unique properties and benefits.
 Oxides are available in forms including powders and dense pellets for such uses as optical coating and thin film applications. Oxides tend to be insoluble. Fluorides are another insoluble form for uses in which oxygen is undesirable such as metallurgy, chemical and physical vapor deposition and in some optical coatings. Holmium is available in soluble forms including chlorides, nitrates and acetates. These compounds are also manufactured as solutions at specified stoichiometries.
Holmium is a Block F, Group 3, Period 6 element. The number of electrons in each of Holmium's shells is 2, 8, 18, 29, 8, 2 and its electronic configuration is [Xe] 4f11 6s2. In its elemental form holmium's CAS number is 7440-60-0. The holmium atom has a radius of 174.3.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is unknown. Holmium is only slightly toxic. Holmium has the highest magnetic moment (10.6µB) of any naturally occurring element. Because of this it has been used to create the highest known magnetic fields by placing it within high strength magnets as a pole piece or magnetic flux concentrator. This magnetic property also has value in yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) lasers for microwave equipment.
All elemental metals, compounds and solutions may be synthesized in ultra high purity (e.g. 99.999%) for laboratory standards, advanced electronic, thin fillm deposition using sputtering targets and evaporation materials, metallurgy and optical materials and other high technology applications. Information is provided for stable (non-radioactive) isotopes. Organo-Metallic Holmium compounds are soluble in organic or non-aqueous solvents. See Analytical Services for information on available certified chemical and physical analysis techniques including MS-ICP, X-Ray Diffraction, PSD and Surface Area (BET) analysis.
Holmium was first discovered by J.L. Soret in 1878.
 Holmium |
 Holmium |
 Olmio |
 Hólmio |
 Holmio |
 Holmium |
Holmium Abundance. The following table shows the abundance of Holmium and each of its naturally occurring isotopes on Earth along with the atomic mass for each isotope.
| Isotope |
Atomic Mass |
% Abundance on Earth |
| Ho-165 |
164.930 |
100 |
The following table shows the abundance of Holmium present in the human body and in the universe scaled to parts per billion (ppb) by weight and by atom:
| |
Typical Human Body |
Universe |
| by Weight |
no data |
0.5 ppb |
| by Atom |
no data |
0.004 ppb |
Holmium Safety Data and Biological Role. The safety data for Holmium metal, nanoparticles and its compounds can vary widely depending on the form. For potential hazard information, toxicity, and road, sea and air transportation limitations, such as DOT Hazard Class, DOT Number, EU Number, NFPA Health rating and RTECS Class, please see the specific material or compound referenced in the left margin. Holmium compounds have no biological role.
Ionization Energy. The ionization energy for Holmium (the least required energy to release a single electron from the atom in it's ground state in the gas phase) is stated in the following table:
| 1st Ionization Energy |
580.99 kJ mol-1 |
| 2nd Ionization Energy |
1138.54 kJ mol-1 |
| 3rd Ionization Energy |
2203.74 kJ mol-1 |
Conductivity. As to Holmium's electrical and thermal conductivity, the electrical conductivity measured in terms of electrical resistivity @ 20 ºC is 87 µOcm and its electronegativities (or its ability to draw electrons relative to other elements) is 1.23. The thermal conductivity of Holmium is 16.2 W m-1 K-1.
Thermal Properties of Holmium. The melting point and boiling point for Holmium are stated below. The following chart sets forth the heat of fusion, heat of vaporization and heat of atomization.
| Heat of Fusion |
17.2 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Vaporization |
303 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Atomization |
302.63 kJ mol-1 |
Recent Research & Development for Holmium
Microbrachytherapy using holmium-166 acetylacetonate microspheres: A pilot study in a spontaneous cancer animal model.
Bult W, Vente MA, Vandermeulen E, Gielen I, Seevinck PR, Saunders J, van Het Schip AD, Bakker CJ, Krijger GC, Peremans K, Nijsen JF.
Brachytherapy. 2012 Sep 19. pii: S1538-4721(12)00192-4. doi: 10.1016/j.brachy.2012.08.001. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22999975
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Evaluation of Endoscopic Laser Excision of Polypropylene Mesh/Sutures Following Anti-Incontinence Procedures.
Davis NF, Smyth LG, Giri SK, Flood HD.
J Urol. 2012 Sep 19. pii: S0022-5347(12)04219-X. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.07.040. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22999703
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Holmium laser enucleation versus photoselective vaporization for prostatic adenoma greater than 60 ml: preliminary results of a prospective, randomized clinical trial.
Singh BP, Dhakad U.
J Urol. 2012 Sep 14. pii: S0022-5347(12)04902-6. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.08.217. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
PMID:
22986042
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Holmium Laser Enucleation Versus Photoselective Vaporization for Prostatic Adenoma Greater than 60 ML: Preliminary Results of a Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial.
Elhilali MM.
J Urol. 2012 Sep 14. pii: S0022-5347(12)04901-4. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2012.08.216. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
PMID:
22986036
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Ho3+ doped LaAlO3 nanoparticles.
Vu HH, Atabaev TS, Kim HK, Hwang YH.
J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2012 Jul;12(7):5847-51.
PMID:
22966668
[PubMed - in process]
Multi-frequency EPR studies of a mononuclear holmium single-molecule magnet based on the polyoxometalate [Ho(III)(W(5)O(18))(2)](9-).
Ghosh S, Datta S, Friend L, Cardona-Serra S, Gaita-Ariño A, Coronado E, Hill S.
Dalton Trans. 2012 Sep 5. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22951605
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Editorial Comment to Single-session ureteroscopy with holmium laser lithotripsy for multiple stones.
Schatloff O.
Int J Urol. 2012 Sep 3. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2012.03142.x. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
PMID:
22943409
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Holmium-166 radioembolisation in patients with unresectable, chemorefractory liver metastases (HEPAR trial): a phase 1, dose-escalation study.
Smits ML, Nijsen JF, van den Bosch MA, Lam MG, Vente MA, Mali WP, van Het Schip AD, Zonnenberg BA.
Lancet Oncol. 2012 Aug 21. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22920685
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
MINI PCNL in a Pediatric Population.
Wah TM, Kidger L, Kennish S, Irving H, Najmaldin A.
Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2012 Aug 24. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22918446
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Safety and Efficacy of Laser Lithotripsy for Complicated Biliary Stones Using Direct Choledochoscopy.
Sauer BG, Cerefice M, Swartz DC, Gaidhane M, Jain A, Haider S, Kahaleh M.
Dig Dis Sci. 2012 Aug 18. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22903184
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The Role of Microperc in the Treatment of Symptomatic Lower Pole Renal Calculi.
Tepeler A, Armagan A, Sancaktutar AA, Silay MS, Penbegul N, Akman T, Hatipoglu NK, Ersoz C, Erdem MR, Akcay M.
J Endourol. 2012 Aug 8. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22873714
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
In-vitro assessment of a new portable ballistic lithotripter with percutaneous and ureteroscopic models.
Wang AJ, Baldwin GT, Gabriel JC, Cocks FH, Goldsmith ZG, Iqbal MW, Astroza GM, Simmons WN, Zhong P, Preminger GM, Lipkin ME.
J Endourol. 2012 Aug 8. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22873666
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Alternative Treatment of Osteoma Using an Endoscopic Holmium-YAG Laser.
Han BL, Shin HS.
Arch Plast Surg. 2012 Jul;39(4):422-5. Epub 2012 Jul 13.
PMID:
22872849
[PubMed]
Free PMC Article
Effect of Stone Composition on Operative Time During Ureteroscopic Holmium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser Lithotripsy With Active Fragment Retrieval.
Wiener SV, Deters LA, Pais VM Jr.
Urology. 2012 Jul 30. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22854140
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Single-session ureteroscopy with holmium laser lithotripsy for multiple stones.
Takazawa R, Kitayama S, Tsujii T.
Int J Urol. 2012 Jul 31. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2012.03113.x. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22853010
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Long-Term Outcomes After Transmyocardial Revascularization.
Tavris DR, Brennan JM, Sedrakyan A, Zhao Y, O'Brien SM, Peterson ED, Gross TP, Horvath KA, Marinac-Dabic D.
Ann Thorac Surg. 2012 Jul 24. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22835557
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Efficacy and safety of endoscopic laser lithotripsy for urinary stone treatment in children.
Uygun I, Okur MH, Aydogdu B, Arayici Y, Isler B, Otcu S.
Urol Res. 2012 Jul 24. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22825747
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Ureteroscopy with laser lithotripsy for urolithiasis in the spinal cord injury population.
Wolfe T, Klausner AP, Goetz LL, King AB, Hudson T, Gater DR.
Spinal Cord. 2012 Jul 24. doi: 10.1038/sc.2012.86. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22824860
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Determination of some trace elements in food and soil samples by atomic absorption spectrometry after coprecipitation with holmium hydroxide.
Saracoglu S, Soylak M, Cabuk D, Topalak Z, Karagozlu Y.
J AOAC Int. 2012 May-Jun;95(3):892-6.
PMID:
22816279
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Poly[[aqua-[µ(5)-5-(isonicotinamido)-isophthalato][µ(4)-5-(isonicotinamido)-isophthalato]holmium(III)silver(I)] dihydrate].
Nie X, Qu JN.
Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online. 2012 Jul 1;68(Pt 7):m1004-5. Epub 2012 Jun 30.
PMID:
22807704
[PubMed - in process]
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