Lanthanum

Chemical element symbol is (La) and atomic number 57.

Lanthanum is a Rare Earth Metal classified in the group of Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE).

The Lanthanum was discovered in the “earth” oxide obtained by Gadolin Johan and Anders Gustaf Ekeberg from gadolinite (in) and euxenite. The Lanthanum oxide form was isolated in 1839 by Carl Gustaf Mosander. In 1923, was prepared for the first time the reasonably pure metal Lanthanum.

At room temperature, the Lanthanum is a silver grey metal, malleable, ductile, and soft enough to be cut with a knife. It oxidises in air and in water. Extracted Lanthanum monazite: (Ce, La, Th, Nd, Y) PO4 and bastnaesite: (Ce, La, Th, Nd, Y) CO3 F. Its separation from other Rare Earths is tricky.

Lanthanum is soft malleable silvery white metal that has a hexagonal crystalline structure at room temperature. At 310°C, the Lanthanum give a face-centred cubic structure and at 865°C is transformed into a body centred cubic structure. Lanthanum is easily oxidized and is therefore used in elemental form only for research purposes. For example, carbon single Lanthanum were isolated by implanting in the fullerene molecules.