Quick answerGadolinium (Gd) is a lanthanide with atomic number 64 and an atomic mass of 157.25 (2023), in period 6. It was discovered by Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac in 1880. It is used for MRI contrast agents and nuclear reactor shielding. Its electron configuration is [Xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2.
Gadolinium is the metal that sharpens MRI scans, shields nuclear reactors, and cools fridges with magnets instead of gas.
Key facts
| Symbol | Gd |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 64 |
| Atomic mass | 157.25 (IUPAC standard atomic weight, 2023) |
| Category | lanthanide |
| Group | — (f-block element, no group number) |
| Period | 6 |
| Block | f-block |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2 |
| Discovered | Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac, 1880 |
| Uses | MRI contrast agents, nuclear reactor shielding, magnetic refrigeration, phosphors, data storage |
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Keep exploring
- Periodic table — all 118 elements
- Praseodymium (Pr) — another lanthanide, atomic number 59
- Neodymium (Nd) — another lanthanide, atomic number 60
- Promethium (Pm) — another lanthanide, atomic number 61
- Samarium (Sm) — another lanthanide, atomic number 62
- Europium (Eu) — another lanthanide, atomic number 63
- Terbium (Tb) — another lanthanide, atomic number 65
- Dysprosium (Dy) — another lanthanide, atomic number 66
- Holmium (Ho) — another lanthanide, atomic number 67
- Erbium (Er) — another lanthanide, atomic number 68
- Thulium (Tm) — another lanthanide, atomic number 69
- All lanthanide elements — on the periodic table
Sources & last updated
- CIAAW — Standard Atomic Weights
- PubChem Periodic Table
- Wikipedia — Timeline of chemical element discoveries
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.