Rare earths is the common name of 17 chemical elements: scandium, yttrium and the 15 elements of the group of lanthanides. Although the name " rare earths " could lead to the conclusion that these are scarce elements in the earth's crust, except for elements such as cerium, yttrium and neodymium are more abundant. The " earth " part of the name is an old designation for oxides.
Located in the periodic table as group 6, we find a groups composed of several elements, with similar or common characteristics of 15 chemical elements in total, the group of Lanthanides is known by the name of Rare earths, not It is the earth itself that is spoken of but the elements that are found in it, in the earth's crust, being an ancient denomination of the word earth of oxides, they are particularly scarce, with numerical atomic values from 57 to 71, with a metallic and shiny appearance, in a natural state they are combined to form oxides, by their names we find it as follows: Lanthanum La, Cerium Ce, Praseodymium Pr, Neodymium Nd, Promethium Pm, Samarium Sm, Europium Eu, Gadolinium Gd, Terbium Tb, Dysprosium Dy, Holmium Ho, Erbium Er, Thulium Tm, Ytterbium Yb and Lutetium Lu.
Lanthanum (La), discovered in the year 1839 by Carl Mosander, a Swedish chemist, is used in combination with other lanthanides, for optical crystals as lighter stones in medicine to treat kidney failure, its number is 57 its symbol La, it is a silver-white metallic solid.
Cerium (Ce), discovered by Martin Heinrich and Jons Berzelius in the year 1803, with the symbol Ce, with atomic number 58, a silvery-gray white metallic solid is used in its oxide state to polish crystals, in medicine it is used in ointments for burns although it is not known biological properties.
Praseodymium (Pr), atomic number 59 of solid state, silver- white metallic, is used together with magnesium in the manufacture of motors among other things to give yellow color to glasses, making an appearance in the years 1841.
Neodymium (Nd), Carl Auer von Welsbach, an Austrian chemist discovered it in the year 1885, found its true properties in the year 1925 to be able to isolate it, it is used to color enamels, it is used in astronomy so powerful ability to absorb light making crystals, but where the star is and stands out is in the manufacture of magnets for its magnetic intensity. Atomic number 60 of metallic silver white color.
Promethium (Pm), of radioactive characteristics, is used for nuclear batteries used in spacecraft, making its appearance in 1944, it has an atomic number of 61, its appearance as such is not known since to obtain it, it must be separated in a nuclear reactor. uranium.
Samarium (Sm), discovered by the Swiss chemist Jean Charles in 1853 and isolated by Paul Lecoq in 1879, with atomic number 62, used in crystals that absorb infrared light and as elements in fluorescent lamps, if inhaled, it can cause embolisms pulmonary and affect the fig with the high exposure of its component.
Europio (Eu), owed its name by the continent where it was born discovered by Paul Lecoq in 1890, atomic number 63, silver-white, solid and metallic, is used in televisions but not in demand in the industry since in very toxic causing severe damage to humans such as pulmonary embolisms.
Gadolinium (Gd), its atomic number is 64, It is a rare silver-white metal, It is only found in nature in a combined way, its characteristics increase with low temperatures, therefore its main use in industrial refrigeration, in medicine it is used to do the MRI exam.
Terbium (Tb), Terbium was discovered in 1843 by the Swedish chemist Carl Gustaf Mosander, in the year 1843 and isolated in 1905, its atomic number 65, metallic silver in color, if inhaled it affects the liver, although it is widely used in the electronics industry by making semiconductors with it.
Dysprosium (Dy), is soft with a silver metallic luster, number 66, has no medical use but is highly toxic, between making fluorescent and test tubes it is used as a fuel catalyst. Isolated in 1905.
Holmio (Ho), its name comes from the city of Stockholm, discovered by Marc Delafontaine and Jacques-Louis Soret, in the years 1878, Ho identification symbol, without practical use in itself but a very important one is to change the laser beam in its frequency, and catalyzes chemical reactions. Atomic number 67.
Erbium (Er), is a very beautiful piece due to its shape and color but it oxidizes quickly, it is used at the nuclear level to dampen neutrons atomic numbered 68, of a silvery white color and shiny metallic, one of its properties is the to give pink color to the crystals used in jewelry. Atomic numbering 68 and was discovered in 1843 by Carl Gustaf Mosander.
Thulium (Tm), is a chemical element of the periodic table whose symbol is Tm and its atomic number is 69, discovered in Sweden in 1879 by Per Teodor Cleve, its name comes from the old name of Scandinavia in Latin, Thule, no it resists humidity but it is resistant to the open air, it is not solid but it is silvery white, it is used to make the source of X-rays and for some lasers, it is not easy to find since its main characteristic is that of being radioactive.
Ytterbium (Yb), Jean Galissard, a Swiss chemist discovered it in 1878 when he found it as a new component, used for its characteristic in dentistry by improving steel as it is alloyed with it, it is volatile since when exposed to air it explodes or produces fires, is irritating to the skin and can cause severe burns. Atomic number 70, silvery white.
Lutetium (Lu), silver-white in color, somewhat stable, very heavy and hard, is used to catalyze oil and in nuclear medicine it is used for therapeutic treatment, the Frenchman Georges Urbain discovered it in 1907 together with the mineralist Carol Welsbach, It bears the first name of Paris, symbol Lu, and atomic number 71, in the earth's crust it is the element that is rarely found, but it is used to refine oil and in medicine for radiotherapies as a treatment.
