Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, specifically the fifteen lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium. Scandium and yttrium are considered rare earth elements because they tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides and exhibit similar chemical properties. Despite their name, most rare earth elements are not particularly rare in the Earth’s crust; however, they are rarely found in concentrated forms, which makes their extraction economically challenging.
The lanthanides are metals that are similar in their properties, including their shininess and reactivity. These elements are key components in a wide range of technological applications due to their unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties. They play crucial roles in the manufacture of modern technologies such as smartphones, computers, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and various defense systems. Specific uses include powerful permanent magnets, phosphors in color television and computer screens, catalysts in automotive catalytic converters, and components in rechargeable batteries.
The extraction, refinement, and processing of rare earth elements can be environmentally challenging and technically complex, which has led to concerns about the supply and geopolitical implications of these critical materials. China has been the dominant supplier of rare earth elements, controlling a significant portion of the world’s production and reserves, which has prompted other countries to develop their own REE resources to ensure a stable supply for future technological development.
Yttrium Iron Garnet is a remarkable synthetic material that has shaped many areas of magnetics, photonics, and microwave engineering. Known for its unusual combination of magnetic, optical, and low-loss properties, YIG appears repeatedly in both fundamental experiments and practical devices. This article explores what YIG is, where it is found or fabricated, how it is […]
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Vanadium is a transition metal that plays an outsized role in modern materials science, energy systems and catalysis. Its chemistry is rich, with multiple oxidation states and colorful compounds, and its industrial story stretches from ancient minerals to cutting-edge grid-scale storage. This article explores where vanadium is found, how it is extracted and processed, its
Iron is one of the most influential elements on Earth, shaping technology, biology and geology for billions of years. Its presence ranges from the deep interior of our planet to the hemoglobin coursing through animal blood, and its compounds and alloys underpin modern industry. This article explores where iron occurs, how it is used, and
Nickel is an often-overlooked but indispensable transition metal that quietly shapes modern industry, technology and daily life. From the gleaming facades of skyscrapers to the batteries powering electric vehicles, this silvery-white element performs roles that range from structural reinforcement to chemical catalysis. In the following sections we will explore where nickel appears in nature, how
Technetium is an intriguing and unusual element that sits at atomic number 43 in the periodic table. It was the first element to be produced artificially and remains remarkable because it has no stable isotopes. From its role at the heart of modern diagnostic medicine to its curious appearances in stellar atmospheres, technetium spans topics
Ruthenium is a transition metal that quietly plays an outsized role in modern technology, chemistry, and industry. Often overshadowed by its more famous neighbors in the periodic table, this element contributes critical functions in areas as diverse as catalysis, electronics, and renewable energy. The following article examines the natural occurrence, physical and chemical properties, extraction
This article explores the rare and intriguing world of Hassium, the heavy synthetic member of the periodic table known as element 108. Although it does not appear in nature in any stable form, hassium has an outsized importance in current research into the limits of the periodic table, the behavior of extremely heavy nuclei, and
The element described by atomic number 107 occupies a unique place at the edge of the periodic table. In this article I will describe its discovery, how and where it is produced, what we know about its properties, and why it matters to modern science. Along the way I will highlight experimental techniques, challenges that
Oganesson is one of the most exotic entries in the periodic table: an element so heavy and so short-lived that it exists only fleetingly in high-energy laboratories. Despite its ephemeral nature, it is the subject of intense theoretical and experimental interest because it pushes the boundaries of nuclear physics, atomic theory and our understanding of
Tennessine is one of the most exotic and elusive members of the periodic table: a superheavy, man-made substance whose existence stretches the limits of modern nuclear physics and chemistry. This article explores how tennessine was discovered, how scientists produce and detect it, where (and whether) it can be found, what practical or theoretical uses it
