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gadolinium definition

gado·lin·ium (gad′ō lin′ē əm)

noun

a chemical element, one of the rare-earth elements, that is highly magnetic at low temperatures, superconductive, and has the highest rate of neutron absorption of any element: symbol, Gd; at. no., 64

Etymology: ModL, earlier gadolinia: so named (1886) by P. E. L. de Boisbaudran (1838-1912), Fr chemist, and J.-C. G. de Marignac (1817-94), Swiss chemist, who had each isolated it, in honor of J. Gadolin (see gadolinite) + -ium

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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