Overview
Thulium is a rare earth metal with niche applications in portable X ray devices and solid state lasers.
Properties
It commonly forms +3 oxidation state compounds and has useful spectroscopic transitions for medical and industrial lasers.
Occurrence and Uses
Used in thulium doped lasers for medical procedures, portable X ray sources and research in photonics.
Isotopes and Safety
Stable isotope Tm 169 is natural; thulium metal and compounds are handled with standard industrial safety measures.