Lanthanum
Lanthanum
Lanthanum (/lænˈθeɪnəm/ lan-THAY-nəm) is a chemical element with the symbol La and atomic number 57. It is a soft, ductile, silvery-white metal that tarnishes slowly when exposed to air and is soft enough to be cut with a knife.
Etymology
The term Lanthanum is derived from the Greek word lanthanein, which means "to lie hidden". This is a reference to the element's elusiveness in its discovery.
History
Lanthanum was discovered in 1839 by Swedish chemist Carl Gustaf Mosander. He discovered it when he was looking for impurities in the mineral cerite. Instead of impurities, he found a new element which he named Lanthanum.
Properties and Uses
Lanthanum is one of the Lanthanides, a group of chemically similar elements ranging from atomic number 57 (Lanthanum) to 71 (Lutetium). It is a soft, malleable, ductile, and highly reactive metal. It is used in various applications such as in the production of Carbon Arc Lights which are used in the motion picture industry for studio lighting and projector lights. Lanthanum is also used in the manufacturing of glass and optics, and in the petroleum industry for refining crude oil.
Health Effects
Exposure to Lanthanum can have various health effects. It can cause lung embolisms, especially during long-term exposure. Lanthanum can also be a threat to the liver when it accumulates in the human body.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lanthanum
- Wikipedia's article - Lanthanum
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski