Gadolinium is named after the Finnish chemist Johannes Gadolin, who unfortunately didn’t live to see the honour.
Gadolinium (atomic number 64, symbol Gd) is a lanthanoid and as is the case with that group of elements, it was difficult to isolate.
It has interesting magnetic properties and is used as a contrast agent in MRI scans, according to AUT’s Prof Allan Blackman.
Photo: RNZ
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The Elemental podcast is celebrating 150 years since the periodic table was first published by Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev.
Find out more about events during the United Nation’s International Year of the Periodic Table.
Nights with Bryan Crump is also celebrating the chemical elements during their Friday night Sonic Tonic and Element of the Week.
Professor Allan Blackman is at Auckland University of Technology.
