Min. [Named by Gadolin 1794, from Ytterby in Sweden, where found: see -ITE1.] A synonym of GADOLINITE. So Ytterbia Chem., the oxide of ytterbium; Ytterbic a., containing ytterbium; Ytterbium [mod. L. (Marignac)], a rare metallic element occurring in gadolinite, etc.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 541. Gadolinite; called also Yttrite and Ytterbite.
1879. Jrnl. Chem. Soc., XXXVI. 118. Ytterbium, a new Metal from Gadolinite…. Solutions of ytterbia give no absorption-spectrum…. Ytterbium sulphate resembles … the sulphates of yttrium and erbium.
