To sponsor this element yourself, please contact Michelle Saxton, Dept. 7.901 at 25 o C Gadolinium, discovered by Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1886, is named for the mineral dadolinite from which it was first obtained. Seventeen isotopes of gadolinium are known to exist, with seven of them occurring naturally.
Gadolinium metal is silvery white, has a metallic luster, and is malleable and ductile.
The metal is relatively stable in dry air, but in moist air it tarnishes due to oxidation. Gadolinium has the highest thermal neutron capture cross-section of any known element, but due do its fast burnout rate, has found limited use as a nuclear control rod material. Gadolinium metal has unusual superconductive properties, is ferromagnetic, and is unique for its high magnetic moment and for its special Curie temperature which lies just at room temperature. Compounds containing gadolinium are used in making phosphors for color TV tubes, and when gadolinium is alloyed with iron and chromium it has been found to improve the workability and resistance of those metals. Also, gadolinium ethyl sulfate has extremely low noise characteristics, and is currently being researched for duplication of the performance of amplifiers.