Scientists from Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a simple, glowing paper sensor that could help detect liver cancer early — using the green glow of a rare earth metal called terbium.
About Terbium:
It is a rare-earth metal of the lanthanide series of the periodic table.
It occurs in many rare-earth minerals but is almost exclusively obtained from bastnasite and from laterite ion-exchange clays. It is also found in the products of nuclear fission.
Properties of Terbium
It is a moderately hard, silvery white metal that is stable in air when in pure form.
The metal is relatively stable in air even at high temperatures, because of formation of a tight, dark oxide layer that can be represented as a mixed oxide composed of Tb2O3 and TbO2.
It readily reacts with dilute acids, but it is insoluble in Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) because the presence of the fluoride ion protects the metal from further reaction by forming a protective layer of TbF3.
It exhibits strong paramagnet above 230 K and antiferromagnetic between 220 K and 230 K, and it becomes ferromagnetic below 220 K.
Uses: Terbium compounds are used as green phosphors in fluorescent lamps, computer monitors, and TV screens that use cathode-ray tubes. Another major use is with dysprosium and iron in the magnetostrictive alloy.
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