• Name: Lutetium

  • Symbol: Lu

  • Number of Energy Levels: 6

  • Electrons on the outer energy level: 2

  • Atomic Number: 71

  • Atomic Mass: 174.967 Amu

  • Protons / Electrons: 71

  • Neutrons: 104

  • Density: 9.85 g/cm3

  • Classification: Rare Earth

Top 14 interesting facts about Lutetium

  • Lutetium was discovered in 1907 by Georges Urbain. Its name derives from the word "Lutetia" which is the ancient name of Paris.
  • Lutetium's melting point is at 1656.0 C (1929.15 K, 3012.8 F) and its boiling point is at 3315.0 C (3588.15 K, 5999.0 F).
  • Lutetium is a silvery white metal.
  • Lutetium is corrosion resistant in dry air but not in moist air.
  • Lutetium is not an abundant element in Earth's crust but it is more abundant than silver.
  • Lutetium has the highest density, it is the smallest, has the highest melting point, and it is the hardest element among lanthanides.
  • Lutetium is a monoisotopic element which means that it has only one stable isotope, lutetium-175.
  • Lutetium is not found in nature by itself but together with other rare-earth elements.
  • Lutetium's separation from other elements is a very difficult and expensive process.
  • The first three main producers of lutetium (lutetium oxide) are China, the USA, and Brazil.
  • Lutetium's price (pure element) is about a quarter of the price of gold.
  • Lutetium's main uses are: catalyst in petroleum industry, in high reflective index immersion lithography, as a dopant in magnetic bubble memory devices, in positron emission tomography, in LED light bulbs, in meteorites dating, as a host for X-ray phosphors, and few other very specific applications.
  • Lutetium is considered of a low-toxicity.
  • Lutetium has no known biological role.