samarium

samarium

a silvery metallic element of the lanthanide series occurring chiefly in monazite and bastnaesite and used in carbon-arc lighting, as a doping agent in laser crystals, and as a neutron-absorber. Symbol: Sm; atomic no.: 62; atomic wt.: 150.36; valency: 2 or 3; relative density: 7.520; melting pt.: 1074°C; boiling pt.: 1794°C

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

samarium

[sə′mar·ē·əm]

(chemistry)

A rare-earth metal, atomic number 62, symbol Sm; melts at 1350°C, tarnishes in air, ignites at 200-400°C.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.