Element 63 · Lanthanide (Rare Earth)
Europium
The red phosphor in CRT televisions and modern LED lights — europium gave us colour broadcasting.
Element Facts
SYMBOL
Eu
ATOMIC NO.
63
ATOMIC WEIGHT
151.96
CATEGORY
Lanthanide (Rare Earth)
PERIOD
Period 6
GROUP
Group 3
History
Europium was discovered in 1901 by French chemist Eugène-Anatole Demarcçay, who separated it from samarium oxide. Named after Europe. Europium’s transformative commercial moment came in the 1960s when it was found to produce vivid, efficient red phosphorescence in cathode ray tubes (CRTs) — enabling colour television to achieve the red component of the RGB colour system. Billions of colour TVs, computer monitors, and fluorescent lamps relied on europium-based red phosphors.
In Brief
Europium is element 63, named after the European continent. It is the most reactive of the rare earth metals, oxidising rapidly in air. Europium-doped phosphors revolutionised colour television in the 1960s by providing the bright red phosphor previously impossible to achieve.
Uses Today
Red and blue phosphors in fluorescent lamps, LED lights, and (historically) CRT television screens. Europium-doped glasses for security applications (the special phosphors in £20 and £50 banknotes are europium-based, glowing under UV light).
Why We Don't Buy It
Why QuickStop Metals doesn’t buy Europium:
Europium occurs in phosphor coatings at parts-per-thousand levels. Recovery from end-of-life lamps and displays requires specialist hydrometallurgical processing — typically only practised in Japan and some EU facilities.
Value & Pricing
Europium oxide trades at approximately £150–600/kg, making it one of the more expensive lanthanides due to its essential role in phosphors. Not a standard scrap metal.