Physical
Lanthanum is the first element and prototype of the lanthanide series. In the periodic table, it … See more

In 1751, the Swedish mineralogist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt discovered a heavy mineral from the mine at Bastnäs, later named cerite. Thirty years later, the fifteen-year-old See more

Lanthanum makes up 39 mg/kg of the Earth's crust, behind neodymium at 41.5 mg/kg and cerium at 66.5 mg/kg. Despite being among the so-called "rare earth metals", lanthanum … See more

Lanthanum has no known biological role in humans. The element is very poorly absorbed after oral administration and when injected its … See more

Lanthanum oxide is a white solid that can be prepared by direct reaction of its constituent elements. Due to the large size of the La ion, La 2O … See more

The first historical application of lanthanum was in gas lantern mantles. Carl Auer von Welsbach used a mixture of lanthanum oxide See more

Lanthanum has a low to moderate level of toxicity and should be handled with care. The injection of lanthanum solutions produces hyperglycemia, low blood pressure, degeneration of the spleen and hepatic alterations. The application in carbon arc light led … See more