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Ten rare elements found in our home

TEN RARE ELEMENTS FOUND IN OUR HOME


Europium
symbol: eu
atomic number: 63
used in nuclear reactors as well as low-energy light bulbs and tV sets.
Discovered by france’s Éugene-Anatole Demarçay in 1896.


Terbium
symbol: tb
Atomic number: 65 found in lcD screens and solid-state memory devices (including usB drives). swedish chemist carl mosander
discovered the soft, malleable and ductile metal in 1843.


Lanthanum
symbol: la
Atomic number: 57 Another of carl mosander’s discoveries, this is one of the metals used in the nickel-metal hydride
(nimH) batteries found in some smartphones, laptops and electric cars.


Neodymium
symbol: nd
atomic number: 60 neodymium makes
excellent magnets and has been put to use in computer hard drives, stereo speakers and electric motors. it’s also used to colour glass.


Yttrium
symbol: Y
atomic number: 39 yttrium is a metal that can be added to glass to make it heat- and shock-resistant; it is found in many camera lenses.


Samarium
symbol: sm
atomic number: 62 Discovered by
frenchman Paul-Émile lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1879, this metal
makes great magnets, used in headphones and electric guitars.


Cerium 
symbol: ce
Atomic number: 58 replacing cadmium in pigments used in domestic products, red plastic toys or
homewares are likely to contain cerium, which is also found in compact
discs, flat-screen tVs and low-energy light bulbs.


Erbium
symbol: er
atomic number: 68 Another carl mosander
discovery, this silver metal has a pink tinge. it’s useful for colouring photographic filters but also improves the function of optical fibres for broadband internet connections.


Dysprosium
symbol: Dy
atomic number: 66 Paul-Émile lecoq de Boisbaudran also
discovered dysprosium. Besides nuclear reactor control rods, dysprosium is used in car headlights and the electric motors found in hybrid vehicles such as the toyota Prius.


Selenium
symbol: se
atomic number: 34
many devices
powered by solar cells contain selenium. you might also find it in your bathroom – it’s used in some antidandruff shampoos.


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