Group Number
Not Available
Element Family
Lanthanide
Transition Metal
Space Group Name
P63/mmc
R_ 3m
Interesting Facts
- Lanthanum metal is highly malleable, ductile and sectile.
- If exposed to air Lanthanum metal oxidizes rapidly.
- At room temperature mercury is found in a liquid state.
- A coin of pound or rupees floats in mercury.
- Because of its low melting point and boiling point it is used in thermometers.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
Mining, Ores of Minerals
Who Discovered
Carl Gustaf Mosander
Ancient Chinese and Indians
Discovery
In 1838
Before 2000 BCE
Abundance In Universe
Not Available
Abundance In Sun
~-9999 %
Abundance In Meteorites
Not Available
Abundance In Earth's Crust
Abundance In Oceans
Not Available
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.
- It is a liquid metal at room temperature, but it is a toxic heavy metal and hence many uses of mercury are under review or phased out.
- It is manly used as a catalysts in chemical industry.
Industrial Uses
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Medical Uses
NA
Dentistry
Other Uses
Alloys, Mirror Manufacturing
Alloys, Mirror Manufacturing, Pharmaceutical Industry
Toxicity
Low Toxic
Highly Toxic
Present in Human Body
Yes
Yes
Melting Point
Not Available
Physical State
Solid
Liquid
Color
Silvery White
Silver
Mohs Hardness
Not Available
Brinell Hardness
Not Available
Vickers Hardness
Not Available
Refractive Index
Not Available
Reflectivity
Not Available
α Allotropes
Not Available
Not Available
β Allotropes
Not Available
Not Available
γ Allotropes
Not Available
Not Available
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Not Available
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Not Available
Allen Electronegativity
Not Available
Pauling Electropositivity
4th Energy Level
Not Available
5th Energy Level
Not Available
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Flammability, Ionization, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 5d2 6s2
[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
Crystal Structure
Double Hexagonal Close Packed (DHCP)
Rhombohedral (RHO)
Crystal Lattice
DHCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Lanthanum.jpg#100
RHO-Crystal-Structure-of-Mercury.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
NA
Lattice C/A Ratio
Not Available
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Not Available
Tensile Strength
Not Available
Not Available
Vapor Pressure at 2000 K
Not Available
Shear Modulus
Not Available
Bulk Modulus
Not Available
Young's Modulus
Not Available
Poisson Ratio
Not Available
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile
NA
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Diamagnetic
Electrical Property
Conductor
Conductor
Critical Temperature
Not Available