Lanthanum Cerium Rare Earth

Lanthanum is a silvery white metal with soft texture, good ductility and conductivity.

The atomic number is 57 and the relative atomic mass is 138.91.

The melting point is 920℃ and the boiling point is 3464℃.

It has active chemical properties, is easily oxidized in the air, and can react with water, acid, etc.

Cerium is a gray metal with good ductility and plasticity.

The atomic number is 58 and the relative atomic mass is 140.12.
The melting point is 795℃ and the boiling point is 3443℃.

Cerium has a variety of oxidation states, the most common of which are +3 and +4 valences. Its +4 valence compound has strong oxidizing properties.

Steel industry: Adding a small amount of lanthanum during the steelmaking process can remove harmful impurities in the steel, improve the organizational structure of the steel, and improve the strength, toughness and corrosion resistance of the steel.

Glass industry: Used to manufacture optical glass, special glass, etc. Adding lanthanum can increase the refractive index of the glass, reduce dispersion, and make the glass have better optical properties.

Electronic industry: It is an important raw material for manufacturing electronic components such as capacitors and piezoelectric ceramics.

Hydrogen storage materials: Lanthanum nickel alloys and other lanthanide alloys have good hydrogen storage properties and can be used to manufacture hydrogen storage containers and hydrogen fuel cells.

Automobile exhaust purification: Cerium oxides (such as cerium oxide) can be used as an important component of automobile exhaust purification catalysts, which can effectively promote the oxidation and decomposition of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, and reduce the pollution of exhaust gas to the environment.

Glass industry: used as glass decolorizer, clarifier and polishing powder. Cerium oxide can remove impurities and colors from glass and improve the transparency and quality of glass; at the same time, cerium-based polishing powder has the advantages of high polishing efficiency and good quality, and is widely used in the polishing of optical glass, flat glass, etc.

Ceramic industry: used to make ceramic pigments and ceramic capacitors. Cerium compounds can make ceramics have bright colors and improve the electrical properties of ceramics.
Petrochemicals: used as catalysts in processes such as petroleum cracking and catalytic reforming, which can improve the efficiency and selectivity of the reaction.