Lanthanum - Materials / Alfa Chemistry

NAVIGATION

Lanthanum

PRICE INQUIRY

Catalog Number

ACMA00014331

Product Name

Lanthanum

Category

Glass Additives

Description

OtherSolid;Liquid

IUPAC Name

lanthanum

Molecular Weight

138.9055g/mol

Molecular Formula

Canonical SMILES

[La]

InChI

InChI=1S/La

InChI Key

FZLIPJUXYLNCLC-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Application

Lanthanum serves multiple key roles across different industries due to its versatile properties. As the first element in the lanthanide series, lanthanum acts as a model for other trivalent rare earth elements. It is primarily used in various applications, including industrial catalysts for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) to produce high-octane gasoline from heavy crude oil. In the field of energy storage, lanthanum-rich compounds are crucial for manufacturing hydrogen storage batteries, such as those used in nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. Additionally, lanthanum finds application in green phosphors for lighting technologies and laser crystals. The addition of small amounts of lanthanum to steel enhances its malleability, impact resistance, and ductility. In water treatment, lanthanum is employed in pool products to remove phosphates that promote algae growth. Its ability to form various shapes, such as ingots, wires, and foils, makes it adaptable for various technological and manufacturing needs. Furthermore, lanthanum plays a significant role in the glass industry, contributing to the production of lenses with high refractive indices. As a silvery metallic element, lanthanum exhibits pyrophoric properties, making it valuable in lighter flint alloys and some optical glasses. It is quickly separated from other rare earth elements due to its basicity, and its superconducting nature emerges at very low temperatures.

Complexity

Covalently-Bonded Unit Count

EC Number

231-099-0

Exact Mass

138.90636g/mol

Formal Charge

Heavy Atom Count

MeSH Entry Terms

Lanthanum

Monoisotopic Mass

138.90636g/mol