Electronic data		Thermal data		Steric data
Shells: 2,8,18,30,8,2 Orbitals: [Xe] 4f12 6s2 Electronegativity: 1.1, -- 1. Ionization potential: 6.1078 eV 2. Ionization potential: 11.929 eV 3. Ionization potential: 22.739 eV Oxidation states: 3 Electrical conductivity: 0.0117 10^6		Melting point: 1529 °C Boiling point: 2868 °C Specific heat: 0.17 J/gK Heat of fusion: 19.90 kJ/mol Heat of vaporization: 261.0 kJ/mol Thermal conductivity: 0.143 W/cmK		Atomic radius: 2.45 Å Ionic radius: 1.00 Å () Covalent radius: 1.57 Å Atomic volume: 18.4 cm³/mol Density (293 K): 9.05 g/cm³ Crystal structure: Hexagonal

Nuclide	Abundance [%]	Mass	Spin	Halflife	Decay mode	Decay tree
162Er	0.136	161.929	0	--	stable	--
164Er	1.56	163.929	0	--	stable	--
166Er	33.41	165.93	0	--	stable	--
167Er	22.94	166.932	7/2	--	stable	--
168Er	27.07	167.932	0	--	stable	--
169Er	0	169	1/2	9.40d	-	View
170Er	14.8	169.936	0	--	stable	--
171Er	0	171	5/2	7.52h	-	View
172Er	0	172	0	2.05d	-	View

Legend

Name origin:	Named after the Swedish town, Ytterby.
Description:	Soft, malleable, silvery metal.
Discovered by:	Carl Mosander
Year:	1843
Place:	Sweden
Sources:	Found with other heavier rare earths in xenotime and euxerite.
Use(s):	Erbium oxide is used in ceramics to obtain a pink glaze. Also a few uses in the nuclear industry and as an alloying agent for other exotic metals. For example, it increases the malleability of vanadium.