It is element number 57 of the periodic table, symbol La, with an atomic mass of 138.9055 and its chemical series the lanthanides. Its melting point ranges between 920 ºC, it can be seen more often in the solid state and its characteristic color is a whitish tone with some subtle silver traces.
Carl Gustaf Mosander, was the intellectual who realized its existence while running the year 1839; He proposed as a name for the element the term of Greek origin " λανθανεῖν " which translated into Spanish, means " hidden ", as he supposed, because it is found within minerals such as Cerium, due to the high radioactivity it presents (distinctive property among the compounds within its chemical series, which are also found in mineral impurities).
It is obtained from a reduction of lanthanum fluoride with calcium. It is a widely used resource in industry, as it can be in Mischmetal, metal bars that are used to make fire, this being possible through the mixture of neodymium, cerium, gadolinium, ytterbium and praseodymium, in addition to Lanthanum.
Likewise, it is used to create crucibles and optical glasses, due to the stability it can give them; You will be part of a new industry that tries to create hydrogen sponges, which in turn will contain lanthanum, whose main function would be to conserve energy; It is also used for the treatments of kidney failure, because they create insoluble substances with phosphate; Lastly, it is one of the chemicals in an X-ray screen. To date, only 4 isotopes are known.
