Gadolinium

Gadolinium is a chemical element with the symbol Gd and atomic number 64. It is a silvery-white, malleable, and ductile rare-earth metal. It is found in nature only in oxidized form, and even when separated, it usually has impurities of the other rare earths. Gadolinium was discovered in 1880 by Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac, who detected its oxide by using spectroscopy. It is named after the mineral gadolinite, one of the minerals in which gadolinium is found, itself named for the chemist Johan Gadolin. Pure gadolinium was first isolated by the chemist Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran around 1886.

Uses

Gadolinium possesses unusual metallurgical properties, to the extent that as little as 1% of gadolinium can significantly improve the workability and resistance to oxidation at high temperatures of iron, chromium, and related metals. Gadolinium as a metal or a salt absorbs neutrons and is, therefore, used sometimes for shielding in neutron radiography and in nuclear reactors.

Biological role and precautions

Gadolinium has no known native biological role, but its compounds are used as research tools in biomedicine. Gadolinium interacts with the human body as a heavy metal and can cause Gadolinium Deposition Disease and Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis when used as a contrast agent.

See also

• Gadolinium Deposition Disease
• Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
• Rare earth elements
• Chemical elements

References

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