There are 17 rare earths metals. Here are their names and some of their applications:
Scandium – aerospace components, mercury-vapour lamps
Yttrium – laser, superconductors, microwave filters.
Lanthanum – glass, flint, hydrogen storage, battery electrodes, camera lenses, cracking catalyst for oil refineries
Cerium – oxidizing agent, polishing powder, yellow colours in glass and ceramics, self-cleaning ovens, cracking catalyst for oil refineries
Praseodymium – rare earth magnets, laser, carbon arc lighting, colourant in glasses and enamels, welding goggles, flint
Neodymium – rare earth magnets, lasers, violet colours in glass and ceramics, ceramic capacitors
Promethium – nuclear batteries
Samarium – rare earth magnets, lasers, neutron capture
Europium – red and blue phosphors, lasers, mercury vapour lamps
Gadolinium – rare earth magnets, high refractive index glass or garnets, lasers, X-ray tubes, computer memories, neutron capture
Terbium – green phosphors, lasers, fluorescent lamps
Dysprosium – rare earth magnets, lasers
Holmium – lasers
Erbium – vanadium steel
Thulium – portable X-ray machines
Ytterbium – infrared lasers, chemical reducing agent
Lutetium – PET scan detectors
