Lutetium

Lutetium is a silvery-white, dense, and hard lanthanide metal.

Discovered in 1907 by Georges Urbain (France), Carl Auer von Welsbach (Austria).

Found in trace amounts in minerals like monazite and xenotime.

SymbolLu
Atomic Number71
CategoryLanthanide (Rare Earth)
AppearanceSilvery-white

Key Properties

  • Densest and hardest lanthanide.
  • High melting point (~1663°C).
  • Stable in air due to surface oxidation.
  • Used as a catalyst in petroleum refining.
  • Used in medical imaging (PET scan detectors using Lutetium oxyorthosilicate – LSO).
  • Research in nuclear technology and quantum computing.
Lutetium Sample

Interesting Facts

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Though it’s the last element in the lanthanide series, Lutetium is sometimes grouped with transition metals due to its unique properties.