Europium

The pure metal Europium is soft, has a silver-white luster, is ductile, and is one of the most reactive rare earths. It oxidizes rapidly in the air and reacts with water to release hydrogen. It will spontaneously combust at temperatures up to 150°C. The oxide of Europium is widely used as an additive in color TV picture tubes and computer monitors to improve the efficiency of red phosphor, and it is also used to improve the energy efficiency of fluorescent lamps.Europium (in mixed gases) is also used in white fluorescent lamps.