Soft silvery white element (6) Crossword Clue
Answer: ERBIUM (6 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Soft silvery white element" with 6 letters is "ERBIUM".Erbium is a soft, silvery-white metallic element, part of the lanthanide series of elements in the periodic table. It is used in various applications, including in the production of lasers, fiber optics, and as a dopant in certain types of glass, due to its unique chemical and physical properties.
Why “Erbium” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (6 letters) meaning “soft silvery white element.” The answer, ERBIUM, fits perfectly:
- Soft silvery white element: Erbium is a metallic chemical element known for its soft texture and silvery-white appearance — exactly matching the clue’s description.
- Direct match: With six letters, erbium fits the enumeration precisely.
- Precise meaning: The word identifies a specific element (symbol Er, atomic number 68) belonging to the lanthanide series on the periodic table, characterized by its metallic sheen and gentle luster.
Erbium is one of the lesser-known but widely used lanthanide series elements:
Origin and discovery:
- Discovered in 1843 by Swedish chemist Carl Gustaf Mosander.
- Named after the Swedish town Ytterby, where many rare earth elements such as yttrium, terbium, and ytterbium were first identified.
Physical properties:
- Erbium is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with a silvery-white appearance.
- It retains its luster well when exposed to air because it forms a stable oxide layer that prevents further tarnishing.
Position on the periodic table:
Symbol: Er
Atomic number: 68
Group: Lanthanides (rare earth elements)
Examples of use:
- “Erbium is often used in fiber-optic communication systems.”
- “Erbium-doped lasers are central to medical and telecommunication technologies.”
- “Trace amounts of erbium can create pink or rose coloring in glass and ceramics.”
In quick crosswords like “Soft silvery white element (6),” scientific clues often refer directly to periodic table elements:
Definition: The entire clue defines erbium, a metallic element described as ‘soft’ and ‘silvery-white.’
Clue type: Scientific definition — straightforward, fact-based, and unambiguous.
Solving approach:
- Focus on keywords like “element,” “metal,” or “chemical” that signal a scientific context.
- Recall common element descriptions beginning with E or corresponding to six letters (erbium, cerium, sodium, etc.).
- The combination of “soft” and “silvery white” uniquely identifies erbium among metallic elements.
Crossword pattern: Periodic table elements often appear in quick crosswords, testing general knowledge of sciences and their elemental properties.
