What is holmium? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of holmium in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of holmium

holmiumnoun

holmium

/ˈhəʊlmiəm//ˈhəʊlmiəm/

Where does the word holmium come from?

The name "holmium" was suggested by the Swedish chemist Per Gaxå, who proposed that it be named after the Finnish archipelago Åland (Åland Islands or Ahvenanmaa in Finnish), also known as the Ålands hav (Ålands havet in Finnish), which includes the island of Kumlinge (Kumlinge in Swedish, Hummelgrund in Finnish) where the largest known deposit of erbium was discovered in 1952. The name "holmium" is derived from the Greek word holmos, meaning islet or small island, in recognition of Kumlinge's island status. The official naming of holmium was approved by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) in 1997. Today, holmium is produced synthetically mainly by the neutron irradiation of erbium, due to its extremely short half-life of less than a minute for the only naturally occurring isotope of holmium. Holmium has several uses in chemistry, physics, and medicine, such as in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and laser technology, but its high cost and low abundance limit its practical applications. Nonetheless, the discovery and naming of holmium shed light on the complex and dynamic nature of the periodic table and the ongoing quest to discover new elements.

Vocabulary summary holmium

typenoun

meaning(chemistry) honmi

Example of vocabulary holmiumnamespace

  • The holmium implant used in the minimally invasive prostate surgery was inserted with precision, leading to a successful procedure.
  • The holmium laser was employed for the vaporization of the prostate tissue during the surgical procedure.
  • The holmium-doped ceramic material is an essential component in the manufacturing process of high-strength gears used in industrial machinery.
  • The holmium alloy is utilized in the production of medical devices such as implants and catheters, due to its biocompatibility and mechanical strength.
  • The holmium glass, with its exceptional optical properties, is employed in high-end optical equipment, such as lasers and lenses.

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