Rare earth elements include 15 lanthanides and 2 transition metals, important to modern technology, found in economically exploitable mineral deposits. Mining and processing can be expensive and lead to radioactive waste. Cerium is the most common and used to reduce carbon monoxide emissions.
There are 17 different rare earth elements, including 15 lanthanides and two transition metals. The first of these elements was discovered in the late 18th century in the form of a mineral that contained two lanthanides in addition to silicon and iron. They were originally called rare earths since they were rare to find in economically exploitable mineral deposits, but rare earth elements are by no means rare, and some of them are actually quite abundant. These elements are very important to modern technology and can be used in everything from cell phones to televisions and batteries for electric cars.
Lanthanides are often grouped together with yttrium and scandium, which are transition metals, due to a number of factors. These elements are often found in the same mineral deposits and also share some chemical similarities. Yttrium, for example, is never found as a free element. Instead, it is always found in mineral compounds with other elements, many of which are typically lanthanides. Yttrium’s physical properties also allow it to fit between the atomic weights of gadolinium and erbium, and it has chemical reactivity similar to that of two other lanthanides.
Rare earth elements are not particularly scarce, so the term can be somewhat misleading. Some rare-earth elements have copper-like abundances, and even the scarcest are substantially more common than gold. The reason they are called rare is the way they are found in nature. It is relatively rare to find rare earth elements in an economically exploitable mineral form.
Mining and processing rare earth elements can be expensive and difficult. Because these elements are often widely dispersed, a large amount of material typically needs to be processed to obtain a relatively small percentage of the rare earths. Treatment can also lead to radioactive waste materials, which may require extensive licensing and abatement procedures.
Many rare earth elements are instrumental to modern technology. Several are used to make lasers, magnets, and phosphors. Computer memory, cell phones, televisions, and other devices can make extensive use of these items. Cerium is the most common rare earth element and is used to reduce carbon monoxide emissions in a variety of ways. A cerium oxide is often added to diesel fuel, and the element can also be used in automobile exhaust systems to catalyze undesirable chemicals into less harmful states.
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