This element is not currently sponsored. To sponsor this element yourself, please contact Michelle Saxton, Dept. The Swiss chemiss Delafontaine and Soret announced the existence of holmium in 1878 after observing the spectral absorption bands of holmium.
Pure holmium has a metallic to bright silver luster.
It is relatively soft and malleable, and is stable in dry air at room temperature, but rapidly oxidizes in moist air and at elevated temperatures. The metal has unusual magnetic properties, but few uses have yet been found for holmium.