Atomic number 62
Samarium
Lanthanide
In the real world
Quick facts
- Atomic mass
- 150.36
- Group
- –
- Period
- 6
- State (STP)
- solid
- Electronegativity
- 1.17
- Common ox. states
- +3
Properties
Electron configuration
[Xe] 4f⁶ 6s²
- Ionization energy
- 544.5 kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- 50.0 kJ/mol
- Melting point
- 1345.00 K (1071.8 °C)
- Boiling point
- 2067.00 K (1793.8 °C)
How dangerous is it?
1/5 · Low risk
A pale metal used in heat-tolerant magnets that keep working when neodymium would quit. Mild chemistry, with the standard reactive-powder note.
- FlammableImmediate
Samarium ignites in air as a fine powder; the solid metal only tarnishes slowly. (as filings or powder, not the solid)
Keep filings away from sparks and flame; the solid is safe to hold.
How it bonds· family overview
Samarium (Sm) is a lanthanide - a soft, silvery metal that almost always loses 3 electrons to form a +3 ion (Ln³⁺). Its 4f electrons sit deep below the valence shell, so chemistry across the lanthanide row is remarkably similar: oxide, fluoride, chloride salts, all in the +3 state.
