Rare Earth Elements? – What are rare Earth Metals?

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Rare Earth Elements? – What are Rare  Earth Metals?

Rare earth metals, also known as rare earth elements (REEs), are a group of 17 chemically similar metallic elements that are important in many high-tech industries due to their unique magnetic, optical, and catalytic properties. The rare earth elements include cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, lanthanum, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium, promethium, samarium, scandium, terbium, thulium, ytterbium, and yttrium. 

They are called "rare earth" because they are not found in large concentrations and are often widely dispersed in the earth's crust. However, they are important components of many modern technologies, including smartphones, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and medical equipment.

 

Uses of Rare Earth Elements

here are some uses of each rare earth element:

1. Scandium: used in aerospace components, solid oxide fuel cells, and high-intensity lights
2. Yttrium: used in superconductors, lasers, phosphors, and cancer treatment drugs
3. Lanthanum: used in camera lenses, batteries, fuel cells, and carbon lighting applications
4. Cerium: used in catalytic converters, glass and polishing compounds, and self-cleaning ovens
5. Praseodymium: used in rare earth magnets, lasers, and as an alloying agent in high-strength metals
6. Neodymium: used in rare earth magnets, lasers, and as a coloring agent for glass and ceramics
7. Promethium: used in nuclear batteries, thickness gauges, and luminous paint
8. Samarium: used in rare earth magnets, nuclear reactor control rods, and high-temperature resistant ceramics
9. Europium: used in color televisions, fluorescent lamps, and lasers
10. Gadolinium: used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents and neutron capture therapy
11. Terbium: used in rare earth magnets, green phosphors for color television tubes, and sonar systems
12. Dysprosium: used in high-performance magnets, nuclear reactor control rods, and hard disk drives
13. Holmium: used in solid-state lasers and nuclear control rods
14. Erbium: used in fiber-optic communication systems, lasers, and metallurgy
15. Thulium: used in portable X-ray machines, high-temperature superconductors, and lasers
16. Ytterbium: used in atomic clocks, solid-state lasers, and stainless steel alloys
17. Lutetium: used in catalysts, PET scanning, and high-refractive-index glass production.

Note that some rare earth elements may have additional uses beyond the ones listed here.

  

Rare Earth Elements in India

India has significant deposits of rare earth elements. The exact number of rare earth elements present in India is not clear, but it is estimated that India has reserves of around 3.1 million tonnes of rare earths. The main rare earth elements found in India include cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, praseodymium, yttrium, thorium, and gadolinium.

 

What is India’s Current Policy on Rare Earth Elements?

India's current policy on rare earths is focused on promoting domestic production, reducing dependence on imports, and exploring new reserves of rare earths within the country. The government has taken various steps to promote the development of rare earths, including the creation of a National Mineral Inventory, which will help identify and develop rare earth resources in the country.

In addition, the government has provided incentives to encourage domestic production, such as tax exemptions and subsidies for rare earth exploration and development. India is also seeking to develop a comprehensive Rare Earths Policy that will help to create a sustainable and environmentally responsible domestic rare earth industry.

 The policy will focus on developing downstream industries that use rare earths, encouraging research and development, and promoting international cooperation to ensure the availability of these critical minerals for India's economic development.

 

Name and Symbols of  Rare Earth Metals – Periodic table numbers of Rare Earth Elements – Uses  of rare Earth Elements

Here is a list of all rare earth elements with their periodic table number, symbol, and characteristics:

1. Cerium (Ce) - Atomic number 58 - Soft, silvery-white metal, highly reactive, used in catalysts, glass, and ceramics.
2. Dysprosium (Dy) - Atomic number 66 - Silvery-white metal, highly magnetic, used in magnets, nuclear reactors, and lighting.
3. Erbium (Er) - Atomic number 68 - Silvery-white metal, stable in air, used in nuclear reactors, fiber optics, and metallurgy.
4. Europium (Eu) - Atomic number 63 - Soft, silvery-white metal, highly reactive, used in color televisions and fluorescent lamps.
5. Gadolinium (Gd) - Atomic number 64 - Silvery-white metal, highly magnetic, used in MRI machines, nuclear reactors, and electronics.
6. Holmium (Ho) - Atomic number 67 - Silvery-white metal, highly magnetic, used in nuclear reactors, magnets, and alloys.
7. Lanthanum (La) - Atomic number 57 - Silvery-white metal, highly reactive, used in catalysts, glass, and ceramics.
8. Lutetium (Lu) - Atomic number 71 - Silvery-white metal, hard, and corrosion-resistant, used in nuclear reactors, lasers, and aerospace.
9. Neodymium (Nd) - Atomic number 60 - Silvery-white metal, highly magnetic, used in magnets, lasers, and glass.
10. Praseodymium (Pr) - Atomic number 59 - Silvery-white metal, highly reactive, used in magnets, alloys, and rare earth polishing powders.
11. Promethium (Pm) - Atomic number 61 - Radioactive metal, only occurs in trace amounts, used in nuclear batteries and atomic clocks.
12. Samarium (Sm) - Atomic number 62 - Silvery-white metal, highly magnetic, used in magnets, nuclear reactors, and lasers.
13. Scandium (Sc) - Atomic number 21 - Silvery-white metal, light and strong, used in aerospace, sports equipment, and alloys.
14. Terbium (Tb) - Atomic number 65 - Silvery-white metal, highly magnetic, used in magnets, nuclear reactors, and lighting.
15. Thulium (Tm) - Atomic number 69 - Silvery-white metal, stable in air, used in portable X-ray machines, lasers, and alloys.
16. Ytterbium (Yb) - Atomic number 70 - Silvery-white metal, highly magnetic, used in nuclear reactors, lasers, and alloys.
17. Yttrium (Y) - Atomic number 39 - Silvery-metallic element, relatively soft and ductile, high melting point, stable in air, a good conductor of electricity and has magnetic properties, uses in the production of electronic displays, microwave filters, and alloys with other metals to improve their mechanical properties