Both the element gadolinium and its mineral gadolinite are named after the chemist Johan Gadolin, who discovered the element. Gadolinium compounds are used to obtain clear nuclear magnetic resonance images. It is also used in electronics and to make corrosion-resistant steel.
Summary of properties (Gd)
| Atomic weight | 157.25(3) |
| Discoverer (year) | De Marignac, Charles Galissard (1880) |
| Natural form | metallic solid (hexagonal) |
| Electron configuration | [Xe] 4f 7 5d1 6s2 |
| Melting point (ºC) | 1311 |
| Boiling point (ºC) | 3233 |
| Abundance in earth's crust (ppm) | 6.2 |
| Isotope (abundance) | 152Gd (0.20), 154Gd (2.18), 155Gd (14.80), 156Gd (20.47), 157Gd (15.65), 158Gd (24.84), 160Gd (21.86) |
| Density g/cm3 | 7.9 |
| Van der Waals radius (pm) | 234 |
| Covalent radius (pm) | 182 |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.2 |
| Vaporization enthalpy (kJ/mol) | 312.00 |
| Enthalpy of fusion (kJ/mol) | 10.00 |
| Specific heat capacity (J/g·K) at 25ºC and 1 atm | 0.24 |
| Thermal conductivity (W/cm·K) at 25ºC and 1 atm | 0.100 |
| Oxidation state | +3 |
| Electron affinity (eV) | |
| 1st Ionization potential (eV) | 6.1498 |
