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Dysprosium

In a world of technological innovation, the compact disc is one product that has had a major influence on lifestyles. Dysprosium serves as a recording medium for the music and movies that we find on these discs.

In 1886, P.E. Lecoq de Boisbaudran discovered this 66^th element. Dysprosium was named accordingly from the Greek "dysprositos" meaning "hard to get" because of its instability in air and water. Due to its reactive nature, dysprosium is not found as a free element. In fact, the element's high reactivity renders it useless in its pure form.

Compounds of dysprosium have several applications in industry. Derivatives of this element are used in the production of permanent magnets and some lasers. Due to its excellent neutron-absorbing properties and high melting point, dysprosium has nuclear control applications in the nuclear industry.