Europium (pronounced /jʊˈroʊpiəm/, yoo-ROH-pee-əm) is a chemical element with the symbol Eu and atomic number 63. It was named after the continent of Europe.
Europium is a metal about as hard as lead and is quite ductile. It becomes a superconductor when it is simultaneously at both high pressure (80 GPa) and at low temperature (1.8 K). The occurrence of superconductivity is due to the applied pressure driving europium from a divalent (J = 7/2) s...
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Europium (pronounced /jʊˈroʊpiəm/, yoo-ROH-pee-əm) is a chemical element with the symbol Eu and atomic number 63. It was named after the continent of Europe.
Europium is a metal about as hard as lead and is quite ductile. It becomes a superconductor when it is simultaneously at both high pressure (80 GPa) and at low temperature (1.8 K). The occurrence of superconductivity is due to the applied pressure driving europium from a divalent (J = 7/2) state into a trivalent (J = 0) state. In the divalent state, the strong local magnetic moment is thought to play a role in suppressing the superconductivity and so through eliminating this local moment the opportunity for superconductivity arises.
Europium is the most reactive of the rare earth elements; it rapidly oxidizes in air (bulk oxidation of a centimeter-sized sample within several days) and resembles calcium in its reaction with water. Samples of the metal element in solid form, even when coated with a protective layer of mineral oil,...
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