Holmium is element number 67, with the symbol Ho. Its name comes from Holmia, the old name for Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
Atomic number 67164.9
HoHolmiumホルミウム (horumiumu)
Symbol
Ho
Atomic weight
164.9
Place in the table
Period 6 · Lanthanoids
Atomic weight from the Chemical Society of Japan, “Table of Standard Atomic Weights with Four Significant Figures (2026)”.
A city’s name
Holmium was discovered in 1879. The name also reflects that many rare-earth elements came from the Stockholm area.
Thulium was discovered together with it in 1879.
Where it sits on the table
The fifteen elements from lanthanum to lutetium are called the lanthanoids. On the Room of the Elements table they are in the upper of the two rows set apart at the bottom.
Think about it
Q1Look for other elements named after capitals (hafnium: Copenhagen; lutetium: Paris).
Q2How many element names are linked to Sweden?
Q3List the names of elements found together.
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — Elements named after old names of cities: holmium (Stockholm), hafnium (Copenhagen) and lutetium (Paris).