Lanthanum (Noun)
Meaning
A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Lanthanum is a highly reactive element and is often used in specialized applications such as catalytic converters and camera lenses.
- The rare earth elements, including lanthanum, have unique properties that make them essential in modern technology.
- When exposed to air, lanthanum tarnishes quickly, losing its bright metallic luster and becoming discolored.
- The extraction of lanthanum from rare earth minerals is a complex process due to the similarities in chemical properties among these elements.
- Researchers have been studying the potential medical applications of lanthanum compounds, which have shown promise in certain diagnostic tests.