Rare ElementsMORE

  • Scandium

    Scandium


    Symbol: Sc
    Atomic Number: 21

    History: It got its name from Latin Scandia (Scandinavia), where the first rare earth ore was discovered.

  • Yttrium

    Yttrium


    Symbol: Y
    Atomic Number: 39

    History: It has been named after the village of Ytterby, Sweden, where the first rare earth ore was discovered.

  • Lanthanum

    Lanthanum


    Symbol: La
    Atomic Number: 57

    History: It got its name from the Greek - lanthanein, meaning to be hidden.

  • Cerium

    Cerium


    Symbol: Ce
    Atomic Number: 58

    History: It has been named after the dwarf planet Ceres, named after the Roman goddess of agriculture.

  • Praseodymium

    Praseodymium


    Symbol: Pr
    Atomic Number: 59

    History: It got its name from the Greek - prasios, meaning leek-green, and didymos, meaning twin.

  • Neodymium

    Neodymium


    Symbol: Nd
    Atomic Number: 60

    History: It got its name from the Greek - neos, meaning new, and didymos, meaning twin.

  • Promethium

    Promethium


    Symbol: Pm
    Atomic Number: 61

    History: It has been named after the Titan Prometheus, who brought fire to mortals.

  • Samarium

    Samarium


    Symbol: Sm
    Atomic Number: 62

    History: It has been named after Vasili Samarsky-Bykhovets, who discovered the rare earth ore samarskite.

  • Europium

    Europium


    Symbol: Eu
    Atomic Number: 63

    History: It has been named after the continent of Europe.

  • Gadolinium

    Gadolinium


    Symbol: Gd
    Atomic Number: 64

    History: It has been named after Johan Gadolin (1760-1852), to honour his investigation of rare earth.

  • Terbium

    Terbium


    Symbol: Tb
    Atomic Number: 65

    History: It has been named after the village of Ytterby, Sweden.

  • Dysprosium

    Dysprosium


    Symbol: Dy
    Atomic Number: 66

    History: It got its name from the Greek dysprositos, meaning hard to get.

  • Holmium

    Holmium


    Symbol: Ho/h5>
    Atomic Number: 67

    History: It has been named after Stockholm (in Latin, Holmia), native city of one of its discoverers.

  • Erbium

    Erbium


    Symbol: Er
    Atomic Number: 68

    History: It has been named after the village of Ytterby, Sweden.

  • Thulium

    Thulium


    Symbol: Tm
    Atomic Number: 69

    History: It has been named after the mythological northern land of Thule.

  • Ytterbium

    Ytterbium


    Symbol: Yb
    Atomic Number: 70

    History: It has been named after the village of Ytterby, Sweden.

  • Lutetium

    Lutetium


    Symbol: Lu
    Atomic Number: 71

    History: It has been named after Lutetia, the city which later became Paris.