| Reactions of Erbium |
 Reactions with water |
| The erbium is quite electropositive and reacts slowly with cold water and quite quickly with hot water to form erbium hydroxide
and hydrogen gas.
|
2Er(s) + 6H2O(g) 2Er(OH)3(aq) + 3H2(g) |
| Reactions with air |
| Erbium tarnishes slowly in air and burns readily to form erbium (III) oxide. |
| 4Er(s) + 3O2(g)2Er2O3(s) |
| Reactions with halogens |
| Erbium reacts with all the halogens to form erbium(III) halides. |
| 2Er(s) + 3F2(g)2ErF3(s) |
| 2Er(s) + 3Cl2(g)2ErCl3(s) |
| 2Er(s) + 3Br2(g)2ErBr3(s) |
| 2Er(s) + 3I2(g)2ErI3(s) |
| Reactions with acids |
| Erbium dissolves readily in dilute sulphuric acid to form solutions containing the yellow aquated Er(III) ion together with hydrogen gas.
|
| 2Er(s) + 3H2SO4(aq)2Er3+(aq) + 3SO42-(aq) + 3H2(g) |
| |