Ytterbium

Ytterbium is a soft, malleable lanthanide metal, usually forming compounds in which it has a +3 charge. Unlike most lanthanides, it can also form stable compounds with a +2 charge. In nature, ytterbium occurs in small amounts mixed with other rare-earth elements in minerals such as monazite and xenotime. To obtain it, these minerals are processed and the ytterbium is separated from the other rare earths, commonly using ion-exchange or solvent-extraction methods. Ytterbium is used in specialized alloys and, as an added ingredient in laser materials, helps produce efficient lasers, including fiber lasers. Certain ytterbium atoms are also used in highly stable experimental atomic clocks. Although the element is not abundant in these ores, its distinctive properties make it valuable for these technologies.