Europium

Europium is a soft, silvery-white lanthanide, one of the rare-earth metals. It reacts readily with air, so its shiny surface quickly develops an oxide coating. Its compounds have a more colorful role: europium-containing phosphors absorb energy and release it as light. They provide red light in fluorescent lamps and older color television screens, and help create fluorescent security markings on euro banknotes. In nature, europium is chemically bound in minerals such as bastnäsite and monazite, mixed with other rare-earth elements. Producers process these ores and separate europium through a series of chemical steps. The purified compounds supply most uses; the metal can be obtained by passing an electric current through molten salts containing europium chloride.