samarium, Chemical element in the lanthanide series, chemical symbol Sm, atomic number 62. Samarium is silvery white in colour and is relatively stable in air. This rare earth metal was discovered in 1879 in the mineral samarskite, which was named after a Russian mining official, Vasily Samarsky-Bykhovets. Samarium is used in special luminescent and infrared-absorbing glasses, in magnetic alloys (combined with cobalt), and in the electronics and ceramics industries.
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