Gadolinium is a rare earth metal, found in the earths crust, and is solid at room temperature.
The metal is relatively stable in dry air. It reacts slowly with water and is soluble in dilute acid. It has a hexagonal crystal structure and is not harmful to humans. Gadolinium bonds with Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Arsenic. It is used for making Gadolinium yttrium garnets which have microwave applications.