Element Family
Lanthanide
Actinide
Space Group Name
P63/mmc
P63/mmc
Interesting Facts
- Lanthanum metal is highly malleable, ductile and sectile.
- If exposed to air Lanthanum metal oxidizes rapidly.
- Thorium metal is used as an alternate option over Uranium for nuclear fuel.
- Thorium metals appearance (silvery white, soft) is somewhat similar to Lead metal.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
Found in Minerals, Mining
Who Discovered
Carl Gustaf Mosander
Jöns Jakob Berzelius
Discovery
In 1838
In 1829
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.
- Thorium metal is used as an allying agent for Magnesium, It imparts greater strength and resistance to temperature.
-
compound of this metal Thorium oxide is used as an industrial catalyst.
Industrial Uses
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Aerospace Industry, Automobile Industry, Chemical Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Medical Uses
-
Dentistry, Surgical Instruments Manufacturing
Other Uses
Alloys, Mirror Manufacturing
Alloys, Jewellery, Sculptures, Statues
Toxicity
Low Toxic
Non Toxic
Present in Human Body
Yes
Yes
Physical State
Solid
Solid
Color
Silvery White
Silver
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Pauling Electropositivity
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Radioactivity
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 5d2 6s2
[Rn] 6d2 7s2
Crystal Structure
Double Hexagonal Close Packed (DHCP)
Face Centered Cubic (FCC)
Crystal Lattice
DHCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Lanthanum.jpg#100
FCC-Crystal-Structure-of-Thorium.jpg#100
Valence Electron Potential
Lattice Angles
π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
π/2, π/2, π/2
Density At Room Temperature
Density When Liquid (at m.p.)
Other Mechanical Properties
Ductile
Ductile
Magnetic Ordering
Paramagnetic
Paramagnetic
Electrical Property
Conductor
Superconductor