Samarium Bromide

Samarium is a Block F, Group 3, Period 6 element. The number of electrons in each of Samarium's shells is 2, 8, 18, 24, 8, 2 and its electronic configuration is [Xe]4f⁶ 6s². In its elemental form samarium's CAS number is 7440-19-9. The samarium atom has a radius of 180.4.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is unknown. Samarium is somewhat toxic. Samarium is primarily utilized in the production of samarium-cobalt (Sm2Co17) permanent magnets. Samarium 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. It is also used in laser applications and for its dielectric properties. Samarium-cobalt magnets replaced the more expensive platinum-cobalt magnets in the early 1970s. While now overshadowed by the less expensive neodymium-iron-boron magnet, they are still valued for their ability to function at high temperatures. They are utilized in lightweight electronic equipment where size or space is a limiting factor and where functionality at high temperature is a concern. Applications include electronic watches, aeospace equipment, microwave technology and servomotors. Because of its weak spectral absorption band samarium is used in the filter glass on Nd:YAG solid state lasers to surround the laser rod to improve efficiency by absorbing stray emissions. Samarium was first discovered by Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1879. Samarium is named after the mineral samarskite. See Samarium research below.