Physical properties of rare earth metal

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The main physicochemical properties of rare earth elements

Rare earth elements are typical metallic elements. Their metallic activity is second only to that of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, but more active than other metal elements. In 17 rare earth elements, according to the active order of the metal, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum increase, from lanthanum to lutetium decrease, namely lanthanum is the most active. Rare earth elements can form chemically stable oxides, halides and sulfides. Rare earth elements can react with nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon, phosphorus, soluble in hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

Rare earth is easy to combine with oxygen, sulfur, lead and other elements to form compounds with high melting point. Because rare-earth elements have a larger atomic radius of the metal than iron, they can be easily filled in the grain and defect, and generate a film that can hinder the grain growth, thereby refining the grain and improving the performance of the steel.

Rare earth elements have an unfilled 4f electron shell structure, which produces a variety of electron energy levels. Therefore, rare earth can be used as excellent fluorescent, laser and electric light source materials, as well as colored glass and ceramic glazes.

Rare earth ions and hydroxyl, azo or sulfonic acid group to form a combination, so that rare earth is widely used in the printing and dyeing industry. Some rare earth elements, such as samarium, europium, gadolinium, dysprosium and erbium, have the characteristics of large neutron capture cross-sections and can be used as control materials and speed reducers in nuclear reactors. However, cerium and yttrium with small neutron capture cross section area can be used as diluent for reactor fuel.

Rare earth has the property of similar trace elements, which can promote the seed germination of crops, the growth of root system and the photosynthesis of plants.

Some physical properties of rare earth metals

Atomic Numbe

Atomic Symbol

AtomicWeight

Ionic Radius(A)

Density
(g/cm3)

Melting Point (oC)

Boiling Point(oC)

Oxide's Melting Point(oC)

Specific Resistance

Magnetic Moment

Thermal Neutron Capture Cross Section

57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
21
39

La
Ce
Pr
Nd
Pm
Sm
Eu
Gd
Tb
Dy
Ho
Er
Tm
Yb
Lu
Sc
Y

138.92
140.13
140.92
144.27
147.00
150.35
152.00
157.26
158.93
162.51
164.94
167.27
168.94
173.04
174.99
44.97
88.92

1.22
1.18
1.16
1.15
1.14
1.13
1.13
1.11
1.09
1.07
1.05
1.04
1.04
1.00
0.99
0.83
1.06

6.19
6.768
6.769
7.007
-
7.504
5.166
7.868
8.253
8.565
8.799
9.058
9.318
6.959
9.849
2.995
4.472

920+/-5
804+/-5
935+/-5
1024+/-5
-
1052+/-5
826+/-10
1350+/-20
1336
1485+/-20
1490
1500~1550
1500~1600
824+/-5
1650~1750
1550~1600
1552

4230
2930
3020
3180
-
1630
1490
2730
2530
2330
2330
2630
2130
1530
1930
2750
3030

2315
1950
2500
2270
-
2350
2050
2350
2387
2340
2360
2355
2400
2346
2400
-
2680

56.8
75.3
68.0
64.3
-
88.0
81.3
140.5
-
56.0
87.0
107.0
79.0
27.0
79.0
-
-

0.00
2.56
3.62
3.68
2.83
1.55~1.65
3.40~3.50
7.94
9.7
10.6
10.6
9.6
7.6
4.5
0.00
-
-

8.9
0.7
11.2
46
-
5500
4600
46000
44
1100
64
166
118
36
108
13
1.27

2020/03/19 23:28
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