Ytterbium (Yb) - Element 70 | Properties & Electron Configuration

What is Ytterbium?

Ytterbium (Yb) is element 70, a lanthanide in period 6. Its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s².

Atomic Number70
SymbolYb
Atomic Mass173.05 u
CategoryLanthanide
Period6
GroupN/A (f-block)
Blockf
Electron Configuration1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s²
Short Config[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s²
Electronegativity1.1
Atomic Radius175 pm
Ionization Energy603 kJ/mol
Electron AffinityN/A
Phase (STP)Solid

Electron Configuration

The full electron configuration of Ytterbium is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 4f¹⁴ 5s² 5p⁶ 6s². In noble gas shorthand, this is written as [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s².

Ytterbium is a f-block element, period 6.

Periodic Trends

Electronegativity: Ytterbium has a Pauling electronegativity of 1.1.

Atomic Radius: 175 pm. Across period 6, atomic radius generally decreases left to right as nuclear charge increases.

Ionization Energy: 603 kJ/mol. Ionization energy generally increases across a period and decreases down a group.

View all 118 elements with trend overlays for electronegativity, atomic radius, ionization energy, and electron affinity.

Explore Ytterbium on the Interactive Periodic Table

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