Lutetium

Author: Robert Husted, Mollie Boorman

History

(Lutetia, ancient name for Paris, sometimes called cassiopeium by the Germans) In 1907, Urbain described a process by which Marignac's ytterbium (1879) could be separated into the two elements, ytterbium (neoytterbium) and lutetium. These elements were identical with "aldebaranium" and "cassiopeium," independently discovered at this time. The spelling of the element was changed from lutecium to lutetium in 1949. 

Properties

Lutetium occurs in very small amounts in nearly all minerals containing yttrium, and is present in monazite to the extent of about 0.003%, which is a commercial source. The pure metal has been isolated only in recent years and is one of the most difficult to prepare. It can be prepared by the reduction of anhydrous LuCl₃ or LuF₃ by an alkali or alkaline earth metal. The metal is silvery white and relatively stable in air.¹⁷⁶Lu occurs naturally (2.6%) with ¹⁷⁵Lu (97.4%). It is radioactive with a half-life of about 3 x 10¹⁰ years.

Uses

Stable lutetium nuclides, which emit pure beta radiation after thermal neutron activation, can be used as catalysts in cracking, alkylation, hydrogenation, and polymerization. Virtually no other commercial uses have been found yet for lutetium. 

Handling

While lutetium, like other rare-earth metals, is thought to have a low toxicity rating, it should be handled with care until more information is available.