Rare-earth solution is reduced with Zn, which drops Eu²⁺ selectively; Eu²⁺ is precipitated as EuSO4 while the trivalent lanthanides stay in solution.
Research Elements Eu · atomic number 63 Lanthanide · period 6 [Xe] 4f7 6s2 Shells: 2, 8, 18, 25, 8, 2 Valence electrons: 2 in the outer shell (6s2), and 7 in 4f7 Green dots are the outer shell's s and p electrons. Softer green dots are the d electrons of transition metals, and the d and f electrons of lanthanides and actinides: they often take part in bonding, but not always. Grey dots are the core. Ground-state configuration from the NIST Atomic Spectra Database (A. Kramida, Yu. Ralchenko, J. Reader and the NIST ASD Team). Abundance is the mole fraction of the element found as that isotope on Earth; digits in parentheses are the uncertainty in the last digits. Masses and abundances from NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (J. S. Coursey, D. J. Schwab, J. J. Tsai and R. A. Dragoset, National Institute of Standards and Technology).Europium
Electrons
How it's obtained
Natural isotopes
Isotope Relative atomic mass Abundance 151Eu 150.9198578(18) 0.4781(6) 153Eu 152.9212380(18) 0.5219(6)