Samarium (Sm)
Samarium was first discovered spectroscopically in 1879 in the mineral samarskit.
It has a bright silver luster and is reasonably stable in air. Three crystal modifications of the metal exist with transformations at 734 and 922 °C. The metal ignites in air around 150 °C.
There are 21 isotopes of samarium. Its natural form is a mixture of several isotopes, three of which are unstable with long half-lives.
Samarium is used for carbon-arc lighting for the motion picture industry and has been used in optical glass and lasers. It is also used as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors.
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