65TbTerbium158.925352[Xe] 4f⁹ 6s²
lanthanide

Terbium

Terbium is a chemical element with symbol Tb and atomic number 65. It is a silvery-white rare earth metal that is malleable, ductile and soft enough to be cut with a knife. Terbium is never found in nature as a free element, but it is contained in many minerals, including cerite, gadolinite, monazite, xenotime and euxenite.

Electronic structure

A stylized shell model. Electrons are quantum objects, not particles following these literal paths. Sizes and motion are illustrative.

Electrons by shell
Electron configuration
4f9
6s2

54 is the [Xe] core total across five shells.

Properties

At a glance

Atomic number
65
Atomic mass
158.925352 u
Phase
Solid
Density
8.23 g/cm³
Melting point
1,629 K
Boiling point
3,396 K
First ionization energy
565.8 kJ/mol
Electronegativity
1.1
Electron affinity
112.4 kJ/mol
Molar heat capacity
28.91 J/(mol·K)
Period
6
Appearance
silvery white

Conditions and isotopes affect measured properties. Some properties of short-lived elements are predicted. Electronegativity uses the Pauling scale.

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Explore the stories, imagery, and reference data in more depth. Properties with no value in the reference are marked unavailable.