🔹 Basic Information

• Element Name: Holmium
• Discovered By: Marc Delafontaine and Jacques-Louis Soret
• Year of Discovery: 1878
• Category: Lanthanide (Rare Earth Metal)
• Group: f-block
• State at Room Temperature: Solid (silvery-white metal) ⚙️

Holmium is a rare earth metal known for its exceptionally strong magnetic properties and use in lasers.

🔸 Chemical Properties

• Chemical Symbol: Ho
• Atomic Number: 67
• Atomic Mass: ~164.93 u
• Valency: +3
• Electronic Configuration: [Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s²

Holmium is relatively stable in dry air but quickly forms an oxide layer when exposed to moisture.

📘 Basic Things to Know

Holmium is soft, silvery, and malleable. It’s not as well-known as other elements, but it’s used in powerful magnets and medical technology.

🤔 Interesting Facts

• Holmium was named after Stockholm (Holmia), the capital of Sweden. 🇸🇪
• It has the highest magnetic strength of any element — stronger than iron or neodymium in certain conditions! 🧲
• Holmium compounds emit bright orange and yellow colors when exposed to certain light. 🟠💡
• Despite its strength, it’s too reactive to be used alone in magnets — it’s usually combined with other elements.
• It’s used in lasers for surgery and in nuclear control rods. 🛡️🔬

🔧 Common Uses

• Magnets: Used in high-strength magnets for scientific and industrial purposes. 🧲
• Lasers: Holmium lasers are used in eye surgery and dentistry. 👁️🦷
• Nuclear Reactors: Acts as a neutron absorber in control rods. ☢️
• Color Glass and Lamps: Holmium salts add color to glass and special lights. 💡🔬
• Research: In advanced materials and magnetic studies.

📚 Conclusion

Holmium is a powerful, magnetic rare earth metal with cool colors and high-tech uses. For students, it’s a great example of how even lesser-known elements play a big role in science, medicine, and technology! 🌈🧲