Daily Almanac for
Jan 1, 2006
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Health and Science—Science—Periodic Table

Rare Earth Elements

Lanthanide Series


KEYELEMENT CLASSIFICATION
Chemical Element Symbol Key
Non-Metals
Alkali Metals
Alkaline-earth Metals
Rare Earth Elements
Transition Metals
Other Metals
Semimetallics
Halogens
Inert Gases
Radioactive Rare Earth Elements
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6
57
La
Lanthanum
138.9055
Name: Lanthanum
Symbol: La
Atomic Weight: 138.9055
Atomic Number: 57
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Carl Mosander
Discovery Date: 1839 (Sweden)
Name Origin: Greek: lanthanein (to be hidden).
6
58
Ce
Cerium
140.115
Name: Cerium
Symbol: Ce
Atomic Weight: 140.115
Atomic Number: 58
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: W. von Hisinger, J. Berzelius, M. Klaproth
Discovery Date: 1803 (Sweden/Germany)
Name Origin: Named after the asteroid, Ceres, discovered two years before the element.
6
59
Pr
Praseodymium
140.90765
Name: Praseodymium
Symbol: Pr
Atomic Weight: 140.90765
Atomic Number: 59
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: C.F. Aver von Welsbach
Discovery Date: 1885 (Austria)
Name Origin: Greek: prasios and didymos (green twin); from its green salts.
6
60
Nd
Neodymium
144.24
Name: Neodymium
Symbol: Nd
Atomic Weight: 144.24
Atomic Number: 60
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: C.F. Aver von Welsbach
Discovery Date: 1925 (Austria)
Name Origin: Greek: neos and didymos (new twin).
6
61
Pm
Promethium
144.9127
Name: Promethium
Symbol: Pm
Atomic Weight: 144.9127
Atomic Number: 61
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: J.A. Marinsky, L.E. Glendenin, C.D. Coryell
Discovery Date: 1945 (United States)
Name Origin: Named for the Greek god, Prometheus.
6
62
Sm
Samarium
150.36
Name: Samarium
Symbol: Sm
Atomic Weight: 150.36
Atomic Number: 62
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac
Discovery Date: 1853 (France)
Name Origin: Named after the mineral samarskite.
6
63
Eu
Europium
151.965
Name: Europium
Symbol: Eu
Atomic Weight: 151.965
Atomic Number: 63
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Eugene-Antole Demarcay
Discovery Date: 1901 (France)
Name Origin: Named for the continent of Europe.
6
64
Gd
Gadolinium
157.25
Name: Gadolinium
Symbol: Gd
Atomic Weight: 157.25
Atomic Number: 64
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Jean de Marignac
Discovery Date: 1880 (Switzerland)
Name Origin: Named after the mineral gadolinite.
6
65
Tb
Terbium
158.92534
Name: Terbium
Symbol: Tb
Atomic Weight: 158.92534
Atomic Number: 65
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Carl Mosander
Discovery Date: 1843 (Sweden)
Name Origin: Named after Ytterby, a village in Sweden.
6
66
Dy
Dysprosium
162.50
Name: Dysprosium
Symbol: Dy
Atomic Weight: 162.50
Atomic Number: 66
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran
Discovery Date: 1886 (France)
Name Origin: Greek: dysprositos (hard to get at).
6
67
Ho
Holmium
164.93032
Name: Holmium
Symbol: Ho
Atomic Weight: 164.93032
Atomic Number: 67
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: J.L. Soret
Discovery Date: 1878 (Switzerland)
Name Origin: Holmia, the Latinized name for Stockholm, Sweden.
6
68
Er
Erbium
167.26
Name: Erbium
Symbol: Er
Atomic Weight: 167.26
Atomic Number: 68
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Carl Mosander
Discovery Date: 1843 (Sweden)
Name Origin: Named after the Swedish town, Ytterby.
6
69
Tm
Thulium
168.93421
Name: Thulium
Symbol: Tm
Atomic Weight: 168.93421
Atomic Number: 69
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Per Theodor Cleve
Discovery Date: 1879 (Sweden)
Name Origin: Thule, ancient name of Scandinavia.
6
70
Yb
Ytterbium
173.04
Name: Ytterbium
Symbol: Yb
Atomic Weight: 173.04
Atomic Number: 70
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Jean de Marignac
Discovery Date: 1878 (Switzerland)
Name Origin: Named for the Swedish village of Ytterby.
6
71
Lu
Lutetium
174.967
Name: Lutetium
Symbol: Lu
Atomic Weight: 174.967
Atomic Number: 71
Element Classification: Rare Earth Element (Lanthanide Series)
Discovered By: Georges Urbain
Discovery Date: 1907 (France)
Name Origin: Named for the ancient name of Paris, Lutecia.


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