Do you like chemistry? It tells you various kinds of chemicals elements on the periodic table. The element number 71 is lutetium. When it is kept in moist air, the element loses its ability to resist corrosion. Therefore, the people have to keep it in dry air. The symbol of lutetium is Lu. The silver white metal is rare on earth. Find out other interesting facts about lutetium below:
Facts about Lutetium 1: the position of lutetium
Have you checked the periodic table before? Lutetium is placed in the lanthanide series as the final element.
Facts about Lutetium 2: discovery
Georges Urbain, Carl Auer von Welsbach and Charles James took the credit as the scientists who discovered lutetium independently in 1907. Urban was a French scientist. James was a chemist from United States. Welsbach was recognized as Austrian mineralogist.
Facts about Lutetium
Facts about Lutetium 3: mineral ytterbia
The mineral ytterbia was the source of lutetium discovered by the three researchers. At first, it was believed that ytterbium was the only element in the mineral.
Facts about Lutetium 4: the uses
Lutetium is not widely used. It only uses for specific purposes. The abundant one is Lutetium-176. This radioactive isotope accounts for 2.5 percent. It has been used to find out the meteorite age.
Read Also: 10 Facts about Liquid Nitrogen
Facts about Lutetium 5: other uses
Other uses of lutetium are as a catalyst for a number of chemical reactions and production of metal alloys.
Lutetium Pic
Facts about Lutetium 6: the Brinell hardness
Compared to all lanthanide chemical elements, the highest Brinell hardness is owned by lutetium.
See Also: 10 Facts about lithium
Facts about Lutetium 7: the content of lutetium
Lutetium has the configuration of 4f145d16s2. It contains 71 electrons. The atom of this element is the smallest one of all lanthanide atoms.
Facts about Lutetium 8: the characteristics
Of all members of lanthanide element, lutetium has the highest hardness, melting point and density.
Lutetium
Facts about Lutetium 9: the production
As I have stated before, lutetium is included in list of rare elements on earth. The major mines of lutetium are located in China, Brazil, US, Australia, Sri Lanka and India. The global production of lutetium reaches 10 tonnes annually. If you think that lutetium is cheap, you are wrong. For a kilogram of lutetium, you have to pay US$10,000.
Check Also: 10 Facts about Luis Miramontes
Facts about Lutetium 10: precaution
Even though lutetium has low level of toxicity, the compound should be handled with care. It may cause skin irritation and explosion when heated.
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