Samarium (Sm)
"Meet 'The Magnetic Maverick'! This element is a master of super-strong magnets and a silent hero in nuclear power plants, controlling atomic reactions with incredible precision."
A memorable persona to anchor Sm in your mind.
7.52
Grams per cm³
1072
Celsius (°C)
229
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
Powers the tiny, mighty magnets in your headphones and electric car motors, keeping your tech humming!
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1879
Discovered By
Paul-Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from samarskite, the name of the mineral from which it was first isolated."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
150.36 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
1794°C
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 4f66s2
1st Ionization Energy
5.644 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"A shiny, silvery-white metal that quickly dulls when exposed to air."
Did You Know?
Samarium was discovered in 1879 by Paul-Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran, making it one of the first 'rare earth' elements to be truly separated and identified.
It holds a unique title: Samarium is the very first chemical element to be named after a person! It got its name from the mineral 'Samarskite', which was named after Russian mining official Colonel Vasili Samarsky-Bykhovets.
Prepare for power! When combined with cobalt, Samarium forms incredibly strong permanent magnets (SmCo) that can handle much higher temperatures than their Neodymium counterparts, perfect for high-performance motors.
This element is a lifesaver in disguise! A specific isotope, Samarium-153, is used in targeted radiation therapy to relieve pain from metastatic bone cancer. It's literally a medical superhero!