Lutetium

Lutetium is a chemical element with the symbol Lu and atomic number 71. It is a silvery white metal, which resists corrosion in dry air, but not in moist air. Lutetium is the last element in the lanthanide series, and it is traditionally counted among the rare earths.

Properties

Lutetium is the heaviest and hardest of the lanthanides. It is also one of the least abundant elements in the Earth's crust. Lutetium is found in small amounts in nearly all minerals that contain yttrium, and is present in monazite to the extent of about 0.003%, which is a commercial source.

History

Lutetium was independently discovered in 1907 by French scientist Georges Urbain, Austrian mineralogist Baron Carl Auer von Welsbach, and American chemist Charles James. They found lutetium as an impurity in ytterbia, which was thought by Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac to be composed of ytterbium.

Applications

Lutetium has few uses. One of its few practical uses has been as a catalyst in the petroleum industry. It is also used in LED light bulbs and in the production of superconductors.

Health effects

Like all rare earths, lutetium is of low to moderate toxicity. Lutetium compounds are likely to be of low toxicity, but its compounds should be handled with care due to the element's ability to displace calcium in the body.

See also

• Lanthanides
• Rare earth elements
• Ytterbium
• Monazite

References

Lutetium Resources
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