Rare earth element

As defined by IUPAC, a rare earth element (REE) or rare earth metal is one of a set of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, specifically the fifteen lanthanides, as well as scandium and yttrium.[2] Scandium and yttrium are considered rare earth elements because they tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides and exhibit similar chemical properties. List[edit] A table listing the seventeen rare earth elements, their atomic number and symbol, the etymology of their names, and their main usages (see also Applications of lanthanides) is provided here. Some of the rare earth elements are named after the scientists who discovered or elucidated their elemental properties, and some after their geographical discovery. A mnemonic for the names of the sixth-row elements in order is "Lately college parties never produce sexy European girls that drink heavily even though you look".[6] Abbreviations[edit] The following abbreviations are often used: Spectroscopy[edit]

Global supply of rare earth elements could be wiped out by 2012 (NaturalNews) It's the bubble you've probably never heard of: The rare earth bubble. And it's due to pop in 2012, potentially devastating the industries of western nations that depend on these rare elements. What industries are those? The automobile industry uses tens of thousands of tons of rare earth elements each year, and advanced military technology depends on these elements, too. Lots of "green" technologies depend on them, including wind turbines, low-energy light bulbs and hybrid car batteries. In fact, much of western civilization depends on rare earth elements such as terbium, lanthanum and neodymium. So what's the problem with these rare elements? If that happens, the western world will be crippled by the collapse of available rare earth elements. These 17 rare earth elements (REE) -- all of which are metals -- are strategic resources upon which entire nations are built. An article in that paper quotes REE expert Jack Lifton as saying, "A real crunch is coming.

The Silver Bear Cafe How Long Will Our World Last? (Yes, We Are Screwed) Jesus Diaz Most people get worried about how much energy reserves we have left, but as this graphic shows, that's the least of our problems. The real problem is the materials we use to make things. Energy could be harnessed from eternal sources, like the sun, the wind, or the seas. But there is only a limited amount of elements in planet Earth and - what's worst - bringing them from other planets will prove impractical with our current technology (and the technology that will be available in the next century). In the meantime, copper - which is everywhere around you - will be gone in about 61 years; antimony - widely used in medicines - will be depleted in 20 years; while indium, rhodium, platinum, or silver - which are present in many essential consumer electronics - won't last much longer. I guess we will have to keep taking life one weekend at a time. i.gizmodo.com