Samarium is a chemical element with the symbol Sm and atomic number 62. It is a silvery metal that tarnishes in air and is moderately soft. Samarium is a member of the lanthanide series, a group of elements often referred to as rare earth elements (REEs). Despite their name, most rare earth elements are relatively abundant in the Earth’s crust, but their extraction and separation processes are both technically challenging and costly.
Samarium possesses unique properties that make it valuable in a variety of applications. It has a high neutron absorption capacity, which is useful in nuclear reactors, and it is used in making alloys for permanent magnets. These magnets are found in a range of technologies, from headphones and electric motors to more sophisticated devices like wind turbine generators and precision-guided weapons.
Furthermore, samarium plays a critical role in the manufacturing of certain cancer treatments, particularly in the form of samarium-153, which is used in pain relief for bone cancer. It’s also used in the glass industry, particularly for making glass that absorbs infrared light.
Although samarium is not as commonly discussed as some other elements, it is a critical component in advanced manufacturing and green technologies, reflecting its importance in modern industry and medicine.
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