It is quite stable in dry air, and an oxide film is formed on the surface in moist air. Will not decompose if used and stored according to specifications. Avoid contact with acids, oxides, damp moisture. Soluble in acid, insoluble in water. Easy to combine with non-metallic elements. Fine powder can spontaneously combust. It exists in nature in the form of trivalent samarium salt. It can be used as neutron absorber, optoelectronic equipment and alloy manufacturing.
Samarium has a silvery white luster. In air, it slowly oxidizes at room temperature and spontaneously ignites at 150°C, even when stored in mineral oil, samarium gradually oxidizes and forms a hydroxide mixture with a grayish-yellow powder on the surface. The metallic appearance can be kept intact in a sealed inert gas (eg argon).
Samarium is positively charged and can be reacted with slow cold water and rapid hot water to form samarium hydroxide.
Application field
It is used in the manufacture of laser materials, microwave and infrared equipment, and also has important uses in the atomic energy industry.
Used in the electronics and ceramic industries. Samarium is easy to magnetize but difficult to demagnetize, which means that it will have important applications in solid-state components and superconducting technology in the future.