lanthanum
pronunciation
How to pronounce lanthanum in British English:
UK [ˈlænθənəm]
How to pronounce lanthanum in American English:
US [ˈlænθənəm]
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- Noun:
- a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
Word Origin
- lanthanum (n.)
- metallic rare earth element, 1841, coined in Modern Latin by Swedish chemist and mineralogist Carl Gustav Mosander (1797-1858), who discovered it in 1839, from Greek lanthanein "to lie hidden, escape notice," from PIE root *ladh- "to be hidden" (see latent). So called because the element was "concealed" in rare minerals.
Example
- 1. In fact , japanese imports of certain key chinese rare earths , including the oxides lanthanum and cerium , actually rose in 2010 from the previous year .
- 2. Global demand for materials such as lanthanum and neodymium was surging as the world 's appetite for hybrid cars , wind turbines and ever-faster phones with better screens increased .
- 3. Rare earths are 17 chemically similar metallic elements such as europium , yttrium and lanthanum that have unique magnetic , optical and other properties crucial for miniaturisation , lasers and energy efficiency .
- 4. A kilogram of lanthanum oxide -- used in oil refining and hybrid vehicles -- now fetches just us $ 13 a kilo , compared with an average us $ 104 a kilo last year .
- 5. Taking the first 11 months of 2010 together , japan 's imports of chinese lanthanum oxide jumped a whopping 259 % from the same period in 2009 .