YbIII

YbIII refers to the ytterbium(III) ion, a chemical species where ytterbium is in its +3 oxidation state. Ytterbium is a rare-earth element with the symbol Yb and atomic number 70. In its most common ionic form, ytterbium readily loses three electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. The electron configuration of neutral ytterbium is [Xe] 4f14 6s2, and YbIII has the configuration [Xe] 4f13. This electron configuration, with a nearly filled f-subshell, gives rise to the characteristic properties of YbIII ions.

YbIII ions are paramagnetic due to the presence of unpaired electrons in the 4f orbitals. They exhibit strong luminescence, particularly in the near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, making them useful in various optical applications such as lasers, phosphors, and sensors. The emission wavelengths are typically around 980 nm and 1070 nm. Ytterbium(III) compounds are often colorless or pale in the solid state, but their solutions can display characteristic absorption and emission spectra. Due to its lanthanide nature, YbIII ions are chemically similar to other trivalent lanthanides, forming stable oxides, halides, and various coordination complexes. These complexes find applications in catalysis and as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging.