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.
Gallium is an element that sits quietly between aluminum and indium in the periodic table, yet it exerts an outsized influence on modern technology. This soft, silvery metal has unusual physical properties, a fascinating discovery history, and a growing list of high-tech applications. The following sections explore where gallium is found, how it is produced, […]
Indium is a soft, silvery post-transition metal with surprising importance far beyond its modest abundance. Though it exists only in trace amounts in the Earth’s crust, modern technology has elevated it to the status of a strategically important material. This article explores where indium is found, how it is produced and recycled, the many ways
Rhenium is one of the rarest and most intriguing transition metals on Earth, prized for a combination of exceptional physical and chemical properties that make it indispensable in high-performance technologies. Although it occurs only in minute quantities in the Earth’s crust, its influence on modern industry is outsized: it plays a crucial role in aerospace
Lutetium occupies a small but intriguing corner of the periodic table. Often overshadowed by its lanthanide neighbors, this element has quietly become indispensable in several cutting-edge technologies. The following sections explore its basic properties, where it occurs in nature, how it is produced and refined, its applications in medicine and industry, and several fascinating aspects
Ytterbium is a quietly influential member of the lanthanide series whose properties and applications touch fields from precision timekeeping to high-power industry lasers and cutting-edge quantum research. Found only in trace amounts in rare-earth minerals, this soft, silvery metal and its ions have a disproportionate impact on modern technology, materials science, and fundamental physics. The
Thulium, a quietly intriguing member of the rare-earth family, sits toward the heavier end of the lanthanide series and combines subtle chemistry with surprising usefulness. Though it seldom appears in everyday conversation, its unique spectroscopic and nuclear characteristics make it valuable in specialized technologies. This article explores where thulium is found, how it is extracted
Erbium is a soft, silvery metal belonging to the family of rare earth elements known as the lanthanides. Although it rarely appears in pure form in nature, erbium and its compounds play a disproportionately large role in modern optics, telecommunications, and medical technologies. This article explores where erbium is found, how it is extracted and
Holmium is a member of the lanthanide series whose unique combination of atomic and magnetic properties has made it a subject of interest across multiple scientific and industrial fields. This article explores where holmium is found, how it is extracted and processed, its principal and emerging applications, and several intriguing facts that connect it to
Dysprosium is a soft, silvery metal belonging to the lanthanide series of the periodic table. Although it is one of the “rare-earth” elements, its significance far outweighs its relative scarcity: dysprosium plays a pivotal role in modern high-performance technologies, from powerful permanent magnets to advanced lasers and nuclear control systems. This article explores where dysprosium
Terbium is a subtle but influential member of the rare-earth family, valued not for mass-market glamour but for a handful of **unique** properties that enable cutting-edge technologies. As a transitional lanthanide element, it often hides in the shadow of its more famous neighbors, yet it plays outsized roles in modern materials science, green light generation,
