Mendeleev
Periodic table · chemistry · physics
Element story

Gadolinium

Atomic number 64 means that every Gadolinium nucleus contains 64 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Gadolinium.

Start with the nucleus

Atomic number 64 means that every Gadolinium nucleus contains 64 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Gadolinium.

Gadolinium (Gd) is chemical element 64. It belongs to the lanthanoids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

In practice, it turns up most often in medical imaging equipment, nuclear reactors and magnets.

See the atom

Conceptual visual: electron shells are a learning aid, not a literal picture of quantum orbitals.

What this number means

Atomic number 64 means that every Gadolinium nucleus contains 64 protons. That proton count is the element's identity: change it and you no longer have Gadolinium.

Keep exploring

→ Gadolinium · Atomic structure · Periodic trends

64GdGadolinium
Gadolinium · Gd · Z = 64

Gadolinium (Gd) is chemical element 64. It belongs to the lanthanoids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Understanding the element

Gadolinium (Gd) is chemical element 64. It belongs to the lanthanoids, and its reference state at room temperature is a solid. Those basic facts are a useful starting point for its chemistry and applications.

Where do we encounter it?

In practice, it turns up most often in medical imaging equipment, nuclear reactors and magnets.

What its position in the table tells us

Gadolinium sits in period 6 and the F block. That location is useful because neighbouring elements often share trends in valence electrons, oxidation states and bonding behaviour.