The key difference between Yttrium and Ytterbium is that natural yttrium is non-radioactive, whereas ytterbium is usually radioactive.

Yttrium and ytterbium are terms that sound similar, but they are completely different from each other according to their chemical and physical properties.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Yttrium
3. What is Ytterbium
4. Yttrium vs Ytterbium in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Yttrium vs Ytterbium 

What is Yttrium?

Yttrium is a chemical element having the symbol Y and atomic number 39. It appears as a silvery-metallic transition metal. Chemically, it is similar to lanthanide, and we often classify it as a rare-earth element.

Figure 01: Appearance of Yttrium Metal

Moreover, we can find yttrium metal in solid-state at room temperature. It can be found in group 3 and period 5 of the periodic table of elements. It is a d-block element. The most common oxidation state of yttrium is +3. It is a weakly basic oxide compound. Naturally, its occurrence is primordial. It has a hexagonal close-packed crystal structure. Yttrium has a paramagnetic nature.

Furthermore, when considering the physical properties of yttrium, it is a soft, metallic, lustrous, and crystalline metal. It is comparatively less electronegative. Yttrium is stable in air bulk form. This is due to the passivation of protective oxide film that can be found on the surface of the metal.

There are different applications of yttrium, including its use as a sintering additive in producing porous silicon nitride, as a catalyst for ethylene polymerization, in electrodes of some high-performing spark plugs, in gas mantles for propane lanterns, and production of synthetic garnets.

What is Ytterbium?

Ytterbium is a chemical element having the symbol Yb and atomic number 70. It appears as a silvery-white metal with a pale yellow tint. It can be found as the 14th chemical element in the lanthanide series, and it occurs in period 6 of the periodic table of chemical elements. It is an f-block element. We can find this metal existing in the solid-state at room temperature.

Figure 02: Appearance of Ytterbium Metal

Moreover, the most stable oxidation state of ytterbium is +3. Its natural occurrence is primordial and has a face-centered cubic crystal structure. The magnetic property of this metal is paramagnetic. The metal was discovered by Jean Charles Galissard in 1878.

Furthermore, we can observe ytterbium as a soft, malleable, and ductile chemical element that can display silvery luster when it is pure. We can identify it as a rare-earth element. This metal readily dissolves in strong mineral acids. However, it can slowly react with cold water and can undergo oxidation slowly in the air. There are three major isotopes of this metal: alpha, beta, and gamma isotopes.

There are many different uses of ytterbium, which include using it as a source of gamma rays, as high stability atomic clocks, for doping of stainless steel, as a dopant of active media, in forming qubits for quantum computing, etc.

What is the Difference Between Yttrium and Ytterbium?

Yttrium and ytterbium are terms that sound similar, but they are completely different from each other according to their chemical and physical properties. Yttrium is a chemical element having the symbol Y and atomic number 39, while Ytterbium is a chemical element having the symbol Yb and atomic number 70. The key difference between Yttrium and Ytterbium is that natural yttrium is non-radioactive, whereas ytterbium is usually radioactive.

The below infographic presents the differences between Yttrium and Ytterbium in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Yttrium vs Ytterbium

Yttrium is a chemical element having the symbol Y and atomic number 39, while Ytterbium is a chemical element having the symbol Yb and atomic number 70. The key difference between Yttrium and Ytterbium is that natural yttrium is non-radioactive, whereas ytterbium is usually radioactive.

Reference:

1. “Water Treatment Solutions.” Lenntech Water Treatment & Purification.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Yttrium sublimed dendritic and 1cm3 cube” By Alchemist-hp – Own work (FAL) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Ytterbium-3” By Jurii –  (CC BY 1.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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