Definition

A soft, silvery metal that is part of the rare-earth elements, used in various applications including medical x-ray units.

Example

Thulium is used in some medical devices due to its unique properties.

Conversation

Did you know that thulium is one of the rare-earth elements?

Really? I had no idea it was so rare!

Yeah, it's used in some medical x-ray machines too.

That's fascinating! I love learning about elements like that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Thulium is derived from the name 'Thule', which refers to a distant place in the north, and the suffix '-ium', commonly used in chemistry to denote metallic elements. The word 'thulium' thus refers to a metal named after a mythical northern land.

Memory Tip

Imagine a metal named after a distant northern place ('Thule') — that's how you can remember that 'thulium' is a metal.

Visually Confused Words