3 ms·

I don't get it, what is the purpose of these elements? Is this jewellery or what?

• phaemon 7y ago
  No, they're used in electronics. Just google "rare earth" and you'll find plenty of details.
  • skilled 7y ago
    Ok. The article didn't explain this.
• pfdietz 7y ago
  They have a wide variety of uses. Big ones include some varieties of batteries, magnets (NdFeB, SmCo), phosphors, doped fiber optical amplifiers (very important for global fiber optic networks), Nd-YAG lasers, catalysts for oil processing, contrast agents for MRI (gadolinium). There's even a drug for osteoporosis containing lanthanum. Some rare earths have extraordinarily high thermal neutron capture cross sections, in the millions of barns. Gadolinium is used as a "burnable absorber" in some nuclear reactors, particularly naval reactors: as the fuel is consumed, the absorber also burns down, reducing the reactivity change.
  • skilled 7y ago
    Thanks. I should have looked it up beforehand but the article definitely made me feel frustrated.