Symbol
La
  
Bi
  
Group Number
Not Available
  
Period Number
6
  
6
  
Block
f block
  
p block
  
Element Family
Lanthanide
  
Post-Transition
  
Space Group Name
P63/mmc
  
C12/m1
  
Interesting Facts
- Lanthanum metal is highly malleable, ductile and sectile.
- If exposed to air Lanthanum metal oxidizes rapidly.
  
- Bismuth metal is soluble and reacts with concentrated nitric acid.
- It oxides are used as a yellow pigment in paint. Bismuth chloride oxide BiClO gives a pearly texture to cosmetics.
  
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
  
History
  
  
Who Discovered
Carl Gustaf Mosander
  
Claude François Geoffroy
  
Discovery
In 1838
  
In 1753
  
Abundance
  
  
Abundance In Sun
~0.0000002 %
  
25
~0.000006 %
  
14
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Uses & Benefits
- It has no commercial uses, but its alloys are in high demand. Lanthanum and Nickel alloy is used for the hydrogen gas storage.
- The best-known use for mischmetal alloy of Lanthanum is; as a ‘flints’ for cigarette lighters.
  
- Tin and bismuth alloys have a very low melting point and hence it is used in fire detector and the fire extinguishers. It also used in electric solders and fuses.
  
Industrial Uses
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Automobile Industry, Chemical Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
  
Medical Uses
NA
  
Pharmaceutical Industry
  
Other Uses
Alloys, Mirror Manufacturing
  
Alloys
  
Biological Properties
  
  
Toxicity
Low Toxic
  
Low Toxic
  
Present in Human Body
Yes
  
Yes
  
In Blood
Not Available
  
0.02 Blood/mg dm-3
  
20
In Bone
0.08 p.p.m.
  
24
0.20 p.p.m.
  
22
Boiling Point
3,469.00 °C
  
18
1,560.00 °C
  
99+
Appearance
  
  
Physical State
Solid
  
Solid
  
Color
Silvery White
  
Silver
  
Luster
NA
  
Metallic
  
Hardness
  
  
Vickers Hardness
Not Available
  
Speed of Sound
2,475.00 m/s
  
37
1,790.00 m/s
  
99+
Optical Properties
  
  
Allotropes
No
  
No
  
α Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
β Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
γ Allotropes
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Chemical Formula
La
  
Bi
  
Isotopes
  
  
Electronegativity
  
  
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Not Available
  
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Not Available
  
Allen Electronegativity
Not Available
  
Electropositivity
  
  
Pauling Electropositivity
Ionization Energies
  
  
1st Energy Level
538.10 kJ/mol
  
99+
703.00 kJ/mol
  
35
2nd Energy Level
1,067.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
1,610.00 kJ/mol
  
33
3rd Energy Level
1,850.30 kJ/mol
  
99+
2,466.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
4th Energy Level
4,819.00 kJ/mol
  
22
4,370.00 kJ/mol
  
28
5th Energy Level
5,940.00 kJ/mol
  
25
5,400.00 kJ/mol
  
30
6th Energy Level
Not Available
  
8,520.00 kJ/mol
  
19
Electrochemical Equivalent
1.73 g/amp-hr
  
99+
2.60 g/amp-hr
  
19
Other Chemical Properties
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
  
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
  
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 5d2 6s2
  
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3
  
Crystal Structure
Double Hexagonal Close Packed (DHCP)
  
Rhombohedral (RHO)
  
Crystal Lattice
DHCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Lanthanum.jpg#100
  
RHO-Crystal-Structure-of-Bismuth.jpg#100
  
Atom
  
  
Radius of an Atom
  
  
Atomic Weight
138.91 amu
  
99+
Atomic Volume
20.73 cm3/mol
  
16
21.30 cm3/mol
  
14
Adjacent Atomic Numbers
  
  
Valence Electron Potential
40.71 (-eV)
  
99+
41.90 (-eV)
  
99+
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
  
NA
  
Lattice C/A Ratio
Not Available
  
Density
  
  
Density At Room Temperature
6.16 g/cm3
  
99+
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
5.94 g/cm3
  
99+
10.05 g/cm3
  
18
Tensile Strength
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Viscosity
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Vapor Pressure
  
  
Vapor Pressure at 2000 K
Not Available
  
Elasticity properties
  
  
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile
  
NA
  
Magnetic Characteristics
  
  
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
  
Diamagnetic
  
Permeability
Not Available
  
Susceptibility
Not Available
  
Electrical Properties
  
  
Electrical Property
Conductor
  
Semiconductor
  
Electrical Conductivity
0.01 106/cm Ω
  
99+
0.01 106/cm Ω
  
99+
Electron Affinity
48.00 kJ/mol
  
23
91.20 kJ/mol
  
11
Specific Heat
0.19 J/(kg K)
  
32
0.12 J/(kg K)
  
40
Molar Heat Capacity
27.11 J/mol·K
  
21
25.52 J/mol·K
  
37
Thermal Conductivity
13.40 W/m·K
  
99+
7.97 W/m·K
  
99+
Critical Temperature
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Expansion
12.10 µm/(m·K)
  
32
13.40 µm/(m·K)
  
28
Enthalpy
  
  
Enthalpy of Vaporization
399.60 kJ/mol
  
17
151.00 kJ/mol
  
99+
Enthalpy of Fusion
6.20 kJ/mol
  
99+
10.90 kJ/mol
  
33
Enthalpy of Atomization
431.00 kJ/mol
  
16
207.10 kJ/mol
  
99+
Standard Molar Entropy
56.90 J/mol.K
  
23
56.70 J/mol.K
  
24