Atomic / phase data
Reference atomic and phase values are source-reviewed.
Material structure
The ordinary elemental structure is measured/reviewed; the viewer is a teaching representation.
Element vs material uses
Uses distinguish elemental metal from compounds, alloys, doped hosts or isotope-specific systems.
Geography
Discovery/supply context is selective and does not fabricate deposits, facilities or inventories.
The lens describes evidence status, not confidence theatre. “Unknown” is kept unknown, and teaching schematics are not presented as direct measurements.
Holmium (Ho)
Holmium is element 67, a lanthanide with one of the largest atomic magnetic moments. Its Ho³⁺ chemistry connects the periodic table to specialized magnets, neutron absorption and infrared laser materials.
Holmium atomic number, mass, electron configuration and key properties
Holmium: quick answers
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does holmium have?
Holmium’s atomic number is 67, so every holmium atom has 67 protons, and a neutral atom also has 67 electrons. Its most common natural isotope, holmium-165, has 98 neutrons (other isotopes have different neutron counts).
What is the symbol for holmium?
The chemical symbol for holmium is Ho.
Is holmium a solid, liquid or gas at room temperature?
Holmium is a solid at room temperature (about 25 °C).
What family (group) is holmium in?
Holmium is a lanthanide, in period 6 (the f-block row shown below the main table) of the periodic table.
What is the electron configuration of holmium?
The ground-state electron configuration of holmium is [Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s².
From atomic number to chemistry
Read these as a chain of causes, not as isolated facts. Each step links to the concept hub if you want the underlying idea explained.
67 protons define holmium.
The ground-state configuration frames atomic and chemical behavior.
Periodic position organizes recurring chemistry and trends.
The teaching nucleus is one isotope, not the relative atomic mass.
Phase claims preserve source-reviewed evidence and material context.
Holmium in its period and family
Holmium is a late lanthanide with [Xe]4f¹¹6s² ground state and dominant Ho³⁺ chemistry. Its partially filled 4f shell gives a very large atomic magnetic moment.
Holmium Visual Lab
Explore Ho across the teaching nucleus, isolated-atom orbitals, evidence-aware material structure and temperature/evidence views, then connect those models to uses, isotopes, search-led questions and source-backed context.
Every mark points to one exact feature
The numbered markers explain the same information system used throughout Element Lookup. Unknown or predicted fields remain visibly labelled rather than being replaced with guesses.
Holmium in one minute
Atomic number 67 means every holmium nucleus has 67 protons.
Neutral Holmium has the ground-state configuration [Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s².
The representative teaching isotope is ¹⁶⁵Ho.
Holmium can be strongly magnetic, but a “holmium laser” uses Ho ions doped into a host crystal; the laser medium is not a bar of elemental Ho.
The ordinary material reference is Hexagonal close-packed (HCP).
Shell rings organize electron counts. They are not electron trajectories or orbital shapes.
2 · 8 · 18 · 29 · 8 · 2 electrons
The displayed 4f_xyz orbital is one representative real f cubic harmonic. It is not a picture of the whole 4f subshell or the electronic bands in the bulk material.
Ordinary holmium metal is HCP. Optical laser hosts and holmium-containing magnets have different structures from the elemental metal.. The viewer is evidence-aware: measured structures are identified as such; unknown bulk structures stay unknown.
Teaching visualization; not a literal finite sample or thermal trajectory.What this model does—and does not—show
The displayed 4f_xyz orbital is one representative real f cubic harmonic. It is not a picture of the whole 4f subshell or the electronic bands in the bulk material.
Where do I meet holmium?
Clickable learning cards connect the element to materials, environment, technology, biology or research - depending on what the evidence actually supports.
Laser materials
Ho³⁺-doped crystals such as Ho:YAG support infrared laser transitions; the host crystal is part of the device.
4f¹¹ → Ho³⁺ → magnetic and infrared optical behavior
Holmium’s signature optical applications use Ho³⁺ inside host crystals; its elemental HCP metal is a separate material.
4f¹¹6s²
Late-lanthanide open 4f shell.
Holmium in periodic context
Compare nearby or family-related elements without treating a trend as a substitute for element-specific evidence.
| Atomic number | 66 |
|---|---|
| Series | lanthanide |
| Atomic number | 67 |
|---|---|
| Series | lanthanide |
| Atomic number | 68 |
|---|---|
| Series | lanthanide |
Holmium properties: atomic, physical, thermal and chemical
Categories follow the science of this element rather than a fixed decorative template. Each row carries condition/provenance context and an evidence label; unknown values stay unknown.
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomic number | 67 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Relative atomic mass | 164.930 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Ground-state electron configuration | [Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s² | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Group / period / block | Group Lanthanide · Period 6 · f-block | Periodic-table placement | Evaluated |
| Electronegativity | 1.23 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Reference isotope | ¹⁶⁵Ho | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| State context | Bright silvery lanthanide metal | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Density | 8.80 g/cm³ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Material / molecular structure | Hexagonal close-packed (HCP) | Ordinary holmium metal is HCP. Optical laser hosts and holmium-containing magnets have different structures from the elemental metal. | Measured |
| Classification | Lanthanide | Periodic-table / chemistry classification | Evaluated |
| Structure-model scope | Ordinary holmium metal is HCP. Optical laser hosts and holmium-containing magnets have different structures from the elemental metal. | Teaching visualization; exact crystallographic coordinates are not implied unless stated. | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melting / transition reference | 1745 K | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Boiling / gas reference | 2973 K | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Phase-path context | At approximately standard pressure, holmium is treated as a solid below 1745 K, liquid between melting and approximately 2973 K, and gas above the boiling reference. The ordinary crystal label applies to the stated material reference; unmodeled solid allotropy is not fabricated. | Shared phase registry drives the slider, regions and markers. | Evaluated |
| Condition warning | Temperature and pressure define phase behavior; purity/allotropy may matter. | Teaching condition statement | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common oxidation states | +3 | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Ion / common ion context | Ho³⁺ | Source-reviewed; see Sources below | Evaluated |
| Periodic chemistry context | Holmium is a late lanthanide with [Xe]4f¹¹6s² ground state and dominant Ho³⁺ chemistry. Its partially filled 4f shell gives a very large atomic magnetic moment. | Element-specific interpretation | Reviewed |
| Chemistry caution | Elemental form, ions and compounds are distinct chemical objects. | Interpretive teaching rule | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¹⁶⁵Ho | Natural isotope | Essentially all natural holmium is ¹⁶⁵Ho. | Evaluated |
| Radioisotopes | Artificial isotopes | Used in research and isotope-specific applications. | Evaluated |
| Natural holmium | Single-isotope natural element | Relative atomic mass is close to the ¹⁶⁵Ho isotope mass. | Evaluated |
| Teaching nucleus | ¹⁶⁵Ho · 67 protons + 98 neutrons | Reference isotope used in the nucleus model | Reviewed |
| Property | Value | Context / provenance | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page evidence note | Atomic identity and reference values are source-reviewed. Material viewers are teaching representations, not crystallographic refinements. Search demand shapes headings and FAQs but never overrides measured/evaluated evidence or element-versus-compound distinctions. | Evidence summary for this guide | Reviewed |
| Structure evidence | Ordinary holmium metal is HCP. Optical laser hosts and holmium-containing magnets have different structures from the elemental metal. | Measured structure, labelled schematic, prediction or explicit unknown as applicable. | Reviewed |
| Map evidence rule | Real pins are reviewed examples; conceptual layers are used when pins would mislead. | Geography Explorer 2.0 | Reviewed |
| Source set | 3 primary/reference links listed below | Open the Sources section for the actual references. | Reviewed |
Is Holmium a solid, liquid or gas? State at temperature
At approximately standard pressure, holmium is treated as a solid below 1745 K, liquid between melting and approximately 2973 K, and gas above the boiling reference. The ordinary crystal label applies to the stated material reference; unmodeled solid allotropy is not fabricated.
Where on Earth is Holmium found or produced?
Who discovered Holmium, and when?
Marc Delafontaine and Louis Soret observed spectral evidence for holmium; Per Teodor Cleve independently separated holmium-containing material.
Holmium is named from Holmia, the Latin name for Stockholm.
Further rare-earth separation clarified holmium from neighboring erbium and dysprosium.
Holmium remains a specialized magnetic, optical and neutron-absorbing element.
From source material to Holmium applications: high-level material path
Holmium is obtained from mineral or metallurgical feedstocks in which it is chemically associated with other elements rather than mined as abundant native metal.
Industrial separation and refining produce element-specific compounds or metal feedstock; this guide does not provide operational extraction recipes.
The refined material is converted into the particular alloy, compound, doped host or component required by the application.
Recycling and recovery depend on the host product, concentration and economics; application materials must not be confused with pure element.
What is holmium used for?
Infrared lasers
Ho-doped host crystals support useful near-2 μm laser transitions.
Magnetic research
Holmium’s large magnetic moment makes it valuable in specialized magnetic materials and experiments.
Neutron absorbers
Holmium-containing materials can be used where neutron capture is useful.
Spectral standards
Sharp Ho absorption features support wavelength calibration in some optical contexts.
Holmium isotopes and natural abundance
¹⁶⁵Ho
Natural isotopeEssentially all natural holmium is ¹⁶⁵Ho.
Radioisotopes
Artificial isotopesUsed in research and isotope-specific applications.
Natural holmium
Single-isotope natural elementRelative atomic mass is close to the ¹⁶⁵Ho isotope mass.
Five-question Holmium check
What is Holmium’s atomic number?
Which classification best fits Holmium?
What is the representative teaching isotope?
Which statement respects the material evidence?
Which rule should guide real-world uses?
Holmium questions students commonly ask
Each answer starts with the direct fact, then explains the chemistry, evidence or material context so the result is understandable rather than merely memorized.
What is holmium?
Short answer: Holmium is chemical element 67, symbol Ho, a bright silvery lanthanide metal.
Atomic number 67 means every holmium nucleus contains 67 protons. In the periodic table, Holmium is classified here as a lanthanide in Period 6 and Group Lanthanide. Holmium is a late lanthanide with [Xe]4f¹¹6s² ground state and dominant Ho³⁺ chemistry. Its partially filled 4f shell gives a very large atomic magnetic moment.
Key point: Ho is element 67; its periodic position and electron structure explain the rest of the page.
What is holmium used for?
Short answer: Uses include Ho-doped lasers, specialized magnetic materials, neutron absorbers and optical calibration.
Infrared lasers: Ho-doped host crystals support useful near-2 μm laser transitions. Magnetic research: Holmium’s large magnetic moment makes it valuable in specialized magnetic materials and experiments. Holmium can be strongly magnetic, but a “holmium laser” uses Ho ions doped into a host crystal; the laser medium is not a bar of elemental Ho. Nuclear and optical applications are likewise material- or isotope-specific.
Key point: Always distinguish the pure element from the compound, alloy, isotope or device material that actually performs the application.
Who discovered holmium?
Short answer: Holmium was identified in 1878 through work by Marc Delafontaine and Louis Soret and independently by Per Teodor Cleve.
In 1878, Marc Delafontaine and Louis Soret observed spectral evidence for holmium; Per Teodor Cleve independently separated holmium-containing material. Holmium is named from Holmia, the Latin name for Stockholm.
Key point: Discovery credit follows the historical evidence and accepted attribution, not just the earliest claim.
Where is holmium found?
Short answer: It occurs as a minor component of rare-earth minerals such as monazite and bastnäsite and is separated with other lanthanides.
Holmium is obtained from mineral or metallurgical feedstocks in which it is chemically associated with other elements rather than mined as abundant native metal. Neutron absorbers Holmium-containing materials can be used where neutron capture is useful.
Key point: Natural occurrence, resources, production and recycling are different geography questions.
Is holmium a metal?
Short answer: Yes. It is a lanthanide metal.
This guide classifies Holmium as a lanthanide. Its periodic position is Period 6, f-block, Group Lanthanide. Holmium is a late lanthanide with [Xe]4f¹¹6s² ground state and dominant Ho³⁺ chemistry. Its partially filled 4f shell gives a very large atomic magnetic moment.
Key point: Periodic-table classification describes recurring atomic/chemical behavior; it does not make every element in a column physically identical.
Is holmium magnetic?
Short answer: Yes. Ho atoms/ions have very large magnetic moments, but bulk magnetic behavior depends on temperature and material context.
Holmium is element 67, a lanthanide with one of the largest atomic magnetic moments. Its Ho³⁺ chemistry connects the periodic table to specialized magnets, neutron absorption and infrared laser materials. Holmium is a late lanthanide with [Xe]4f¹¹6s² ground state and dominant Ho³⁺ chemistry. Its partially filled 4f shell gives a very large atomic magnetic moment.
Key point: The mechanism matters: connect the observed behavior to electron structure, bonding, phase or the specific material form rather than memorizing the result alone.
What does holmium look like?
Short answer: Elemental holmium is a bright silvery metal.
The ordinary elemental-material description used here is: Bright silvery lanthanide metal. Holmium can be strongly magnetic, but a “holmium laser” uses Ho ions doped into a host crystal; the laser medium is not a bar of elemental Ho. Nuclear and optical applications are likewise material- or isotope-specific.
Key point: Elemental appearance can differ from the colors of its ions, compounds, oxide films or host materials.
Is holmium toxic?
Short answer: Holmium has no known biological role; safety should be based on the specific chemical form and applicable material data.
This page is educational. Chemical, occupational, radiological or medical safety decisions require the specific material/isotope, its current safety data and qualified guidance.
Key point: Safety claims must be substance- and exposure-specific.
Scientific sources for Holmium
- Royal Society of Chemistry - Holmium
- NIST - Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions
- IUPAC - Periodic Table of Elements
Found an error, something unclear, or a missing topic?
Tell us what you noticed. Feedback goes to a private review queue and is never published automatically.