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Y - Yttrium Basic Info
Yttrium, symbol Y, is a silver-white metallic element with an atomic number of 39. Yttrium is one of the transition elements of the periodic table.
Yttrium was isolated by the Swedish chemist Carl Gustav Mosander in 1843. Yttrium metal can be prepared by the reduction of yttrium triflouride (YF3) with calcium. It oxidizes readily in air to the oxide Y2O3 and dissolves in hot water to form hydroxide Y(OH)3. Yttrium ranks about 29th in abundance of the elements in the earth's crust and can be found as an oxide in most of the rare earth minerals.
Yttrium melts at about 1,522°C (about 2,772°F), boils at about 3,338°C (about 6,040°F), and has a specific gravity of 4.47. The atomic weight of yttrium is 88.906. Yttrium is sometimes included among the rare earth elements.
Yttrium can also used as Yttrium-Europium phosphors, which produce the red color in CRT televisions, oxygen sensors, yttrium stabilized cubic zirconia, laser crystals, functional ceramics, precision structural ceramics, communication optical fiber, crucibles for melting reactive metals, and additives such as deoxidizer etc.
Yttrium Products
- Yttrium Europium Coprecipitate
- Yttrium Oxide (PDF)
- Yttrium Metal
La - Lanthanum Basic Info
Lanthanum (Greek lanthanein, meaning "to escape notice"), symbol La, is a metallic element with an atomic number of 57. Lanthanum is one of the rare earth elements of the periodic table. Lanthanum is often regarded as the first member of the lanthanide series, to which it gives its name.
Lanthanum was discovered by the Swedish chemist Carl Gustav Mosander in 1839. It burns in air at about 450°C (about 842°F) to form lanthanum oxide, La2 O3. It forms colorless trivalent salts, including one of the strongest trivalent bases, which is used by analytical chemists. It generally occurs with other rare earth elements in minerals, such as apatite and monazite, and in certain kinds of calcite and fluorspar. Lanthanum is fairly common, ranking 28th in order of abundance of the elements in the earth's crust.
Lanthanum melts at about 918°C (about 1,684°F), boils at about 3,464°C (about 6,267°F), and has a specific gravity of 6.15. The atomic weight of lanthanum is 138.91. Lanthanum has been widely used as a fluidized cracking catalysts. It can also be applied to optical lens, fuel cells, NiMH rechargeable batteries, X-ray films, etc.
La Products
- LaCeTb Oxide
- Lanthanum Oxide Specs
- La/Pr Solution
Ce - Cerium Basic Info
Cerium, symbol Ce, is a soft, gray metallic element that is the most abundant of the rare earth elements. Cerium is in the lanthanide series of the periodic table. Its atomic number is 58.
Cerium was discovered in 1803 by the Swedish chemists Baron Jöns Jakob Berzelius and Wilhelm Hisinger, and in the same year, independently, by the German chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth. The pure metallic element was not isolated until 1875.
Cerium ranks 26th in natural abundance among the elements in the earth's crust. It occurs with other rare earth metals in monazite, which is found widely distributed worldwide, and bastnasite, found in Southern California. It also occurs in the minerals cerite, found in Sweden, and allanite, found in Greenland and New York state. Cerium is the only one of the rare earth metals that can be easily separated from the others. It melts at 798°C (1,468°F), boils at about 3,443°C (about 6,229°F), and has a specific gravity of 6.77. The element has an atomic weight of 140.12.
Cerium is used in catalytic converters and fuel additives, glass polishing and UV shielding, water filtration, fluorescent lighting, and as an etching agent.
Cerium Products
- Cerium Oxide
- Cerium Carbonate
- Cerium Zirconium compound
- Cerium Acetate Solution
- Cerium Nitrate Solution
Pr - Praseodymium Basic Info
Praseodymium, symbol Pr, is a silvery metallic element with an atomic number of 59. Praseodymium is one of the rare earth elements in the lanthanide series of the periodic table.
Praseodymium was discovered in 1885 by the German chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach, who separated it from neodymium. A mixture of the two elements had formerly been considered a single element, called didymium. Praseodymium is a paramagnetic metal that corrodes rapidly in moist air. It forms green trivalent salts.
Praseodymium is widely distributed in nature and ranks 37th in order of abundance of the elements in the crust of the earth. It is found in cerite and other rare earth minerals.
Praseodymium melts at about 931°C (about 1,708°F), boils at about 3,520°C (about 6,368°F), and has a specific gravity of 6.64. The atomic weight of praseodymium is 140.9.
Praseodymium is used in permanent magnets, photographic filters, and airport signal lenses. It is also used as a pigment in ceramic tile and glass, and as pollution control catalysts.
Praseodymium Products
- Praseodymium/Neodymium Alloy
- Praseodymium Oxide
Nd - Neodymium Basic Info
Neodymium, symbol Nd, is a silvery metallic element with an atomic number of 60. Neodymium is one of the rare earth elements in the lanthanide series of the periodic table. Neodymium was isolated in 1885 by the Austrian chemist Baron Carl Auer von Welsbach, who separated it from praseodymium. Neodymium and praseodymium had previously been regarded as a single element, called didymium. Neodymium ranks 27th in order of abundance of the elements in the earth's crust. It forms trivalent salts, which are rose-red or reddish-violet in color.
Neodymium melts at about 1,021°C (about 1,870°F), boils at about 3,074°C (about 5,565°F), and has a specific gravity of 7.01. The atomic weight of neodymium is 144.24.
Neodymium is used as neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets in smartphones, computer hard drives, audio speakers, and many other consumer electronics. It is also used in hybrid and electric vehicle motors, wind turbine generators, MRI machines, and defense equipment, along with lasers and glass production.
Neodymium Products
- Neodymium Oxide
- Neodymium Metal
Sm - Samarium Basic Info
Samarium, symbol Sm, is a hard, brittle, and lustrous metallic element. Samarium is one of the rare earth elements in the lanthanide series of the periodic table. The atomic number of samarium is 62.
Samarium was discovered in 1879 by the French chemist P. E. Lecoq de Boisbaudran. The metal ignites in air at about 150°C (about 302°F). Like other rare earth metals, it is found in minerals such as cerite, gadolinite, and samarskite. It is 40th in order of abundance of the elements in the earth's crust. Samarium forms chiefly trivalent compounds; the salts are pale yellow in color.
Samarium melts at about 1,074°C (about 1,965°F), boils at about 1,794°C (about 3,261°F), and has a specific gravity of 7.52. The atomic weight of samarium is 150.4.
Samarium is used in making permanent magnet material, optical glass, infrared absorbing glass, and lasers.
Samarium Product
- Samarium Oxide
Eu - Europium Basic Info
Europium, symbol Eu, is a soft, silvery metallic element that is among the least abundant of the rare earth elements. Europium is in the lanthanide series of the periodic table; its atomic number is 63.
Europium was discovered spectroscopically by the French chemist Eugène Demarçay in 1896. It ranks 50th in order of abundance of the elements in the earth's crust; it occurs in monazite, bastnaesite, and other rare earth minerals, as well as in fission products of uranium, thorium, and plutonium. Europium melts at 822°C (1,512°F), boils at about 1,527°C (about 2,781°F), and has a specific gravity of 5.2. The atomic weight of europium is 151.96.
Europium is used as phosphors in LCD screens, compact fluorescent lightbulbs, and lasers.
Europium Product
Gd - Gadolinium Basic Info
Gadolinium, symbol Gd, is a silvery, white metallic element with an atomic number of 64. Gadolinium is one of the rare earth elements in the lanthanide series of the periodic table. It is named after the Finnish chemist John Gadolin.
Gadolinium occurs with other rare earth elements in many minerals, such as samarskite, gadolinite, monazite, and some varieties of Norwegian ytterspar. It is the 41st element in order of abundance in the crust of the earth. Gadolinium melts at about 1,313°C (about 2,395°F), boils at about 3,273°C (about 5,923°F), and has a specific gravity of 7.9. The atomic weight of the element is 157.25.
Gadolinium oxide was first separated from other rare earth elements by the Swiss chemist Jean de Marignac in 1880. The oxide and many salts of gadolinium have been prepared. Gadolinium oxide is white and the salts are colorless.
Gadolinium is used as phosphors in televisions, microwave applications, and heat resistant metals and alloys.
Gadolinium Product
Tb - Terbium Basic Info
Terbium, symbol Tb, is a metallic element with an atomic number of 65. It is one of the rare earth elements in the lanthanide series of the periodic table.
Terbium was discovered in 1843 by the Swedish chemist Carl Gustav Mosander. It ranks about 58th in natural abundance among the elements in crustal rock. It occurs in minute quantities as a white oxide known as terbia, Tb2O3, in such minerals as gadolinite.
Terbium melts at about 1,356°C (about 2,473°F), boils at about 3,230°C (about 5,846°F), and has a specific gravity of 8.23. The atomic weight of terbium is 158.925.
Terbium is used in energy efficient fluorescent lighting, magneto-optic recording of data, solid-state devices, and fuel cells.
Terbium Product
Dy - Dysprosium Basic Info
Dysprosium, symbol Dy, is a metallic element with an atomic number of 66. Dysprosium is one of the rare earth elements in the lanthanide series of the periodic table. The element was discovered in 1886 by Paul Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran, who separated one of its compounds from an oxide of holmium.
Dysprosium is 42nd in abundance among the elements in the earth's crust. The compounds of dysprosium are found in gadolinite, xenotime, euxenite, and fergusonite in Norway, United States, Brazil, India, and Australia. Its salts are either yellow or yellow-green in color; the most common being a chloride (DyCl3), a nitrate (Dy(NO3)3·5H2O), and a sulfate (Dy2(SO4)3·8H2O). The salts of dysprosium have an extremely high magnetic susceptibility. Dysprosium usually occurs as the white oxide dysprosia (Dy2O3), with erbium and holmium, two other rare earth elements.
Dysprosium melts at about 1,412°C (about 2,574°F), boils at about 2,567°C (about 4,653°F), and has a specific gravity of 8.55. The atomic weight of dysprosium is 162.50.
Dysprosium is used as a key additive to NdFeB magnets to maintain their magnetic properties at high temperatures. It can also be used in consumer electronics
Dysprosium Product
- Dysprosium Oxide
Ho - Holmium Basic Info
Holmium, symbol Ho, is a silver-colored metallic element with an atomic number of 67. Holmium is one of the most paramagnetic substances known.
Holmium was discovered in 1878 by the Swiss chemists Jacques Louis Soret and Marc Delafontaine, and, independently, by the Swedish chemist Per Teodor Cleve in 1879. Cleve named the element after his native city of Stockholm, Sweden (the latinized name of Stockholm is Holmia).
Holmium is one of the least abundant of the rare earth metals, ranking 55th in order of abundance of the elements in the earth's crust. Holmium has an atomic weight of 164.93. It melts at about 1,474°C (about 2,685°F), boils at about 2,700°C (about 4,892°F), and has a specific gravity of 8.8. Holmium occurs in gadolinite and other minerals containing rare earths. Holmium oxide, Ho2O3, a grayish-white powder, and a few salts, such as the sulfate, have been prepared.
Holmium has few commercial uses.
Holmium Product
- Holmium Oxide
Er - Erbium Basic Info
Erbium, symbol Er, is a metallic element whose atomic number is 68. The Swedish chemist Carl Gustav Mosander discovered erbium in 1843. Erbium occurs mostly in the same minerals and in the same areas as dysprosium. As one of the rare earth elements, erbium is 43rd in abundance among the elements of the earth's crust. The atomic weight of erbium is 167.26. The element melts at about 1,529°C (about 2,784°F), boils at about 2,868°C (about 5,194°F), and has a specific gravity of 9.1.
Metallic erbium has a bright, silvery luster. Erbium oxide, Er2O3, is a rose-red compound that can be slowly soluble in many mineral acids, forming a series of rose-colored salts, the solutions of which have a sweet, astringent taste.
Erbium is used in fiber optic data transmission, lasers for medical and dental uses, glass coloration used in sunglasses, and in decorative crystal glassware.
Erbium Product
- Erbium Oxide
Yb - Ytterbium Basic Info
Ytterbium, symbol Yb, is a soft, malleable, ductile, metallic element that has a bright silvery luster. Ytterbium is one of the rare earth elements in the lanthanide series of the periodic table. The atomic number of ytterbium is 70.
In 1878, Swiss chemist Jean Charles de Marignac separated a new substance from the rare earth elements and named it ytterbium. In 1907 and 1908, however, French chemist Georges Urbain and Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach independently separated Marignac's ytterbium into two elements, which are now called ytterbium and lutetium. Ytterbium is reasonably stable but reacts slowly with water to liberate hydrogen. Ytterbium occurs in combination with such minerals as xenotime, euxenite, monazite, and gadolinite. It ranks about 44th in natural abundance among the elements in the earth's crust.
Ytterbium melts at 819°C (about 1,506°F), boils at about 1,196°C (about 2,185°F), and has a specific gravity of 7. The atomic weight of ytterbium is 173.04.
Ytterbium is used for the improvement of grain refinement, strength, and other mechanical properties of stainless steel.
Ytterbium Product
- Ytterbium Oxide
Lu - Lutetium Basic Info
Lutetium, symbol Lu, is a silvery, white metallic element with an atomic number of 71. Lutetium is one of the rare earth elements of the periodic table.
Lutetium was discovered independently by two investigators, French chemist Georges Urbain in 1907 and Austrian chemist Carl Auer von Welsbach, at about the same time. It was named by Urbain, who derived the word from Lutetia, the ancient name of Paris. Lutetium occurs in various rare earth minerals, usually associated with yttrium. It is the rarest of the rare earth elements and ranks 59th in order of abundance of the elements in the earth's crust. Several trivalent salts are known. A natural radioactive isotope of lutetium that has a half-life of about 30 billion years is used in determining the age of meteorites in relation to the age of the earth.
Lutetium melts at about 1,663°C (about 3,025°F), boils at about 3,402°C (about 6,156°F), and has a specific gravity of 9.84. The atomic weight of lutetium is 174.97.
Lutetium melts at about 1,663°C (about 3,025°F), boils at about 3,402°C (about 6,156°F), and has a specific gravity of 9.84. The atomic weight of lutetium is 174.97.