71

Lu

Lutetium
174.9668 (1)
 Historical Information

In 1907, Georges Urbain described a process by which Marignac's ytterbium (1879) could be separated into the two elements, ytterbium (neoytterbium) and lutetium. These elements were identical with "aldebaranium" and "cassiopeium", independently discovered by von Welsbach at about the same time.
Basic Information Shells
  • Name:Lutetium
  • Symbol: Lu
  • Atomic number: 71
  • Atomic weight:174.9668 (1)
  • Standard state: solid at 298 K
  • Group in periodic table: 3
  • Group name:lanthanoids
  • Period in periodic table: 6
  • Block in periodic table: d-block
  • Classification: Metallic
 Lutetium
Uses Trivia
  • stable lutetium nuclides can be used as catalysts in cracking, alkylation, hydrogenation, and polymerization

The metal is silvery white and relatively stable in air. It is a rare earth metal and perhaps the most expensive of all rare elements. It is found in small amounts with all rare earth metals, and is very difficult to separate from other rare elements.