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
EX-VIVO COMPARISON OF AVAILABLE MORCELLATION DEVICES DURING HOLEP THROUGH OBJECTIVE PARAMETERS.
Cornu JN, Terrasa JB, Lukacs B.
J Endourol. 2012 Jan 19. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22260635
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
[A meta-analysis of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia].
Zhao CB, Li JC, Yuan PQ, Hong YQ, Lu B, Zhao SC.
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2011 Dec;17(12):1112-20. Chinese.
PMID:
22235682
[PubMed - in process]
[Causes, location and management of BPH surgery-related urethral stricture].
Long Z, He LY, Jiang XZ, Zhang YC, Wang GM, Pei XM, Huang K.
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2011 Dec;17(12):1097-100. Chinese.
PMID:
22235678
[PubMed - in process]
Laser Lithotripsy to Treat Basket Impaction during Mechanical Lithotripsy of a Pancreatic Duct Stone.
Hlaing C, Tarnasky P, Hambrick D.
JOP. 2011 Dec 23;13(1):101-3.
PMID:
22233959
[PubMed - in process]
Outpatient therapeutic nuclear oncology.
Turner JH.
Ann Nucl Med. 2012 Jan 7. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22222779
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Outcomes of transurethral removal of intravesical or intraurethral mesh following midurethral sling surgery.
Jo DJ, Lee YS, Oh TH, Ryu DS, Kwak KW.
Korean J Urol. 2011 Dec;52(12):829-34. Epub 2011 Dec 20.
PMID:
22216395
[PubMed - in process]
The efficacy and safety of ureteroscopy for ureteral calculi in pregnancy: our experience in 32 patients.
Bozkurt Y, Penbegul N, Soylemez H, Atar M, Sancaktutar AA, Yildirim K, Sak ME.
Urol Res. 2012 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22215294
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
catena-Poly[[tetra-kis-(hexa-methyl-phospho-ramide-?O)bis-(nitrato-?O,O')holmium(III)] [silver(I)-di-µ-sulfido-tungstate(VI)-di-µ-sulfido]].
Zeng J, Tang G, Wei C.
Acta Crystallogr Sect E Struct Rep Online. 2011 Dec 1;67(Pt 12):m1724-5. Epub 2011 Nov 9.
PMID:
22199530
[PubMed - in process]
Selected Trace Elements in the Sacramento River, California: Occurrence and Distribution.
Taylor HE, Antweiler RC, Roth DA, Alpers CN, Dileanis P.
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2011 Dec 23. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22193863
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Ureterorenoscopy with Holmium-Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Fragmentation Is a Safe and Efficient Technique for Stone Treatment in Patients with a Body Mass Index Superior to 30 kg/m(2).
Delorme G, Huu YN, Lillaz J, Bernardini S, Chabannes E, Guichard G, Bittard H, Kleinclauss F.
J Endourol. 2012 Jan 12. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22192111
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy for Distal Ureteral Calculi: Comparative Evaluation of Three Different Lithotriptors.
Salvadó JA, Mandujano R, Saez I, Saavedra A, Dell'oro A, Dominguez J, Trucco C.
J Endourol. 2012 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22192101
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
[Relationship between morcellation efficiency and enucleated tissue weight in holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia].
Ishikawa R, Shitara T, Wakatabe Y, Kubo S, Hirayama T, Fujita T, Iwamura M, Baba S.
Nihon Hinyokika Gakkai Zasshi. 2011 Sep;102(5):675-8. Japanese.
PMID:
22191275
[PubMed - in process]
First collaborative experience with thulium laser ablation of localized upper urinary tract urothelial tumors using retrograde intra-renal surgery.
Defidio L, De Dominicis M, Di Gianfrancesco L, Fuchs G, Patel A.
Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2011 Sep;83(3):147-53.
PMID:
22184839
[PubMed - in process]
Treatment of ectopic intratracheal thyroid with a holmium laser.
Hall AB, Gifford TO, Sabatini PR.
Mil Med. 2011 Nov;176(11):1325-6.
PMID:
22165664
[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Characteristics of patients with fluid extravasation during retrograde ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy for renal calculi.
Luo XM, Zhang C, Qian HJ, Song C, Yang SX.
Saudi Med J. 2011 Dec;32(12):1251-5.
PMID:
22159379
[PubMed - in process]
Potential of high-Z contrast agents in clinical contrast-enhanced computed tomography.
Nowak T, Hupfer M, Brauweiler R, Eisa F, Kalender WA.
Med Phys. 2011 Dec;38(12):6469.
PMID:
22149830
[PubMed - in process]
Successful outcome of flexible ureteroscopy with holmium laser lithotripsy for renal stones 2 cm or greater.
Takazawa R, Kitayama S, Tsujii T.
Int J Urol. 2011 Dec 6. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2011.02931.x. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22145599
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
A case of large bladder hemangioma successfully treated with endoscopic yttrium aluminium garnet laser irradiation.
Takemoto J, Yamazaki Y, Sakai K.
Int J Urol. 2011 Dec;18(12):854-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2011.02879.x. Epub 2011 Oct 20.
PMID:
22142464
[PubMed - in process]
[Impacts of different transurethral prostatic resection procedures on male sexual function: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials].
Zong HT, Peng XX, Yang CC, Zhang Y.
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2011 Nov;17(11):1014-8. Chinese.
PMID:
22141274
[PubMed - in process]
Single-operator cholangioscopy-guided laser lithotripsy in patients with difficult biliary and pancreatic ductal stones (with videos).
Maydeo A, Kwek BE, Bhandari S, Bapat M, Dhir V.
Gastrointest Endosc. 2011 Dec;74(6):1308-14.
PMID:
22136776
[PubMed - in process]
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