Lanthanum facts for kids

Lanthanum in a glass tube.

Lanthanum is a special kind of chemical element. Think of elements as the basic building blocks of everything around us! Its chemical symbol is La. Every element has a unique number called its atomic number, and for lanthanum, it's 57.

Lanthanum belongs to a group of elements on the periodic table called the Lanthanides. It's also known as a "rare earth element." Don't let the name fool you, these elements aren't actually super rare. They are just hard to find and separate from each other. Lanthanum is a shiny, silvery-white metal. It's quite soft, so you could even cut it with a knife! It's also malleable, meaning it can be hammered into different shapes, and ductile, which means it can be pulled into thin wires.

What is Lanthanum?

Lanthanum is a soft, silvery-white metal. It's one of the most reactive elements in the lanthanide group. This means it easily combines with other substances. For example, it tarnishes quickly when exposed to air. It also reacts with water to form hydrogen gas.

Where is Lanthanum Found?

Lanthanum is not found by itself in nature. Instead, it's usually mixed with other rare earth elements in minerals. Some of the main minerals where you can find lanthanum include monazite and bastnäsite. These minerals are mined in places like China, the United States, and Australia.

How is Lanthanum Used?

Lanthanum has many interesting uses in our daily lives. It's often used in things we rely on for technology and light.

Modern Uses of Lanthanum

• Hybrid Cars: A big use for lanthanum is in the batteries of hybrid cars. These batteries, often made with nickel-metal hydride, use lanthanum to store energy efficiently.
• Camera Lenses: High-quality camera lenses, like those in your phone or a professional camera, often contain lanthanum. It helps make the glass clearer and improves the way light passes through it. This gives you sharper and brighter pictures.
• Lighting: Lanthanum is used in some types of studio lights and projector lamps. It helps create a very bright, white light.
• Catalysts: In chemistry, a catalyst helps speed up a reaction without being used up itself. Lanthanum is used in catalysts for oil refining. This helps turn crude oil into gasoline and other useful products.
• Water Treatment: Lanthanum can help remove phosphates from water. This is important for preventing too much algae growth in lakes and rivers, which can harm aquatic life.

Historical Uses

Before modern uses, lanthanum was important for gas lantern mantles. These mantles would glow brightly when heated, providing light. This was a common way to light homes and streets before electricity was widespread.

Images for kids

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  Excerpt from the chart of nuclides showing stable isotopes (black) from barium (Z = 56) to neodymium (Z = 60).

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  Carl Gustaf Mosander, the scientist who discovered lanthanum as well as terbium and erbium.

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  A Coleman white gas lantern mantle burning at full brightness

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  LaB₆ hot cathode

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  Comparison of infrared transmittance of ZBLAN glass and silica

See also

In Spanish: Lantano para niños