Element Family
Lanthanide
Alkali
Space Group Name
P63/mmc
Im_ 3m
Interesting Facts
- Lanthanum metal is highly malleable, ductile and sectile.
- If exposed to air Lanthanum metal oxidizes rapidly.
Cesium is the most alkaline metal and is used in atomic clocks.
Sources
Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
Earth's crust, Found in Minerals, Mining, Ores of Minerals
Who Discovered
Carl Gustaf Mosander
Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff
Discovery
In 1838
In 1860
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.
- The most common use of cesium metal is as a drilling fluid. It is also used in optical glass manufacturing.
-
In vacuum tubes and radiation monitor equipment this metal is used as a catalyst promoter.
Industrial Uses
Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Aerospace Industry, Automobile Industry, Electrical Industry, Electronic Industry
Other Uses
Alloys, Mirror Manufacturing
Alloys
Toxicity
Low Toxic
Mildly Toxic
Present in Human Body
Yes
Yes
Physical State
Solid
Solid
Color
Silvery White
Silvery Gold
Pauling Electronegativity
Sanderson Electronegativity
Allred Rochow Electronegativity
Mulliken-Jaffe Electronegativity
Pauling Electropositivity
Electrochemical Equivalent
Other Chemical Properties
Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Chemical Stability, Corrosion, Ionization, Radioactive Isotopes, Solubility
Electron Configuration
[Xe] 5d2 6s2
[Xe] 6s1
Crystal Structure
Double Hexagonal Close Packed (DHCP)
Body Centered Cubic (BCC)
Crystal Lattice
DHCP-Crystal-Structure-of-Lanthanum.jpg#100
BCC-Crystal-Structure-.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
Semiconductor