71 Lu 174.97

Lutetium

Lanthanide

Lutetium (Lu) is a chemical element with atomic number 71, classified as a lanthanide. At room temperature it is a solid. It was discovered in 1907 by Carl Auer von Welsbach, Georges Urbain.

Properties

Atomic number
71
Atomic mass
174.97 u
Category
Lanthanide
Group
3
Period
6
Block
d-block
Electron configuration
[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹ 6s²
Phase at STP
Solid
Density
9.84 g/cm³
Melting point
1925 K (1651.8 °C)
Boiling point
3675 K (3401.8 °C)
Electronegativity
1.27
Atomic radius
217 pm
Ionization energy
5.426 eV
Discovery
1907 · Carl Auer von Welsbach, Georges Urbain

Common uses

Medical imaging, catalysts, research, dating meteorites

Did you know?

Most expensive of all rare earth elements and very hard to extract.