Lutetium

Chemical, physical and material properties and data of the chemical element Lutetium.

Contents

Lutetium is a chemical element with the symbol Lu and atomic number 71. It belongs to the lanthanide group and is the last element in this series. Lutetium is a silver-white, lustrous metal that is relatively stable in its pure form and has a high density.

Lutetium was independently discovered in 1907 by the French scientist Georges Urbain, the Austrian mineralogist Baron Carl Auer von Welsbach, and the American discovered by chemist Charles James. The rare earth element got its name from the Latin name for Paris - lutetia - because the element was discovered in connection with the city of Paris. Lutetium occurs naturally in small amounts and is found in various minerals such as monazite and xenotime.

Chemically, it is a relatively inert element that oxidizes slowly in air, does not react with water, but is soluble in acids such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid.

Due to its rarity and difficulty in obtaining it in large quantities, lutetium is a relatively expensive element. However, it is valued in various scientific and technological fields, especially in laser research, where it is used to manufacture solid-state lasers - and in recent years also in medicine, for example in radiotherapy to treat cancer.

< p>In industry, lutetium has various uses: Due to its ability to withstand high temperatures and capture thermal neutrons, it is used in nuclear reactors and in the nuclear industry. It is also used to make phosphors for X-ray screens and as a catalyst in some chemical reactions.

General Information about Lutetium

Regular nameLutetiumChemical symbolLuOther namesHistorical namesAldebaranium, Cassiopeium (Cp), Lutecium, NeoytterbiumName meaning, originLutetia, Latin name for Paris.Discovery (year)1907 - Carl Auer von Welsbach und Georges Urbain.OccurenceApprox. 0.8 mg/kg in the earth's crust.Position in the PSEPeriod 6, group 3, lanthanide series.Group membershipRare earth elements, transition metals.

Atomar Properties of Lutetium

Atomic number Z71 = number of protonsStandard Atomic Weight174.9668 (1)

Electron configuration of Lutetium

1s	2s	2p	3s	3p	3d	4s	4p	4d	4f	5s	5p	5d	5f	6s	6p	6d	6f	7s	7p
2	2	6	2	6	10	2	6	10	14	2	6	1		2

Shorthand electron configuration of Lutetium: [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹ 6s² .

Ionization Energies of Lutetium

The following table lists the ionization energies IE (ionization potentials); the IE is the energy required in electron volt (eV) per atom to separate a given electron from an Lutetium atom.

IE1	IE2	IE3	IE4	IE5
5.42586	13.9	20.9596	45.25	66.8

Isotopic Data of Lutetium

An overview of the nuclides as well as the isotopic data and properties are listed on the following page: Lutetium isotopes.

Chemistry of Lutetium

Valence electrons3Oxidation states+3Electronegativity1.1 (Pauling original)
1.27 (Pauling)Electron affinity0.346(14) eV
33.4(15) kJ mol^-1

Standard Electrode Potential

E⁰ (V)	Symbol	N_ox	Name Ox. Name Red.	Ox. Red.	e^-
-2.28	Lu	+ III 0	Lutetium(III) cation Lutetium	Lu³⁺ ⇄ Lu (s)	+ 3 e^-

Material and Physical Properties

Melting point1663 °CEnthalpy of fusion (molar)~ 22 kJ mol^-1Boiling point3402 °CEnthalpy of vaporization428 kJ mol^-1Density9.841 g cm^-3 (25 °C)

External Data, Identifiers

CAS registry number7439-94-3InChI =1S/LuInChIKeyOHSVLFRHMCKCQY-UHFFFAOYSA-NPubChem ID23929

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Last update: 2023-06-05

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