Question

Write the uses of Lanthanides.

Answer 1

Hint: The density of lanthanides ranges from 6.1 to 9.8 $g/c{m^3}$. The lanthanides usually have a high melting point varying from $800^\circ C$ to $1600^\circ C$ and high boiling point varying from $1200^\circ C$ to $3500^\circ C$.

Complete step by step answer:
The group carrying the rare earth metal in the periodic table is known as lanthanides. The elements from atomic number 58 to 71 belong to rare earth metal starting from lanthanum and ending with lutetium.
Depending on the properties of lanthanides, there are many uses of lanthanides.
Some uses of lanthanide elements are shown below.
(1) Metallurgical application: Due to the reducing nature of the lanthanides element, they are used in the metallurgical process. Example: Misch metals (Ce 30 to 35 %).
(2) Ceramic application: Oxides of Ce (III) and Ce (IV) are used in glass polishing powder and oxide of Nd and Pr is helpful in coloring glasses.
(3) Electronic application: The lanthanide elements with ferromagnetic nature are used in devices like microwaves.
(4) Catalytic property: Some of the lanthanides elements are used as the catalyst in the reaction to speed up the reaction rate. Example: Cerium phosphate is utilized as a catalyst in petroleum cracking.
(5) Nuclear application: Some lanthanides elements are used in fluxing devices, shielding devices, and nuclear control devices. Isotypes like Sm-140, Dy-164, and Eu-153 are used in nuclear technology.


Note:
Ceramic sulfate is the compound of the lanthanide element that is a good oxidizing agent. As $ + 2$ oxidation state in the lanthanide element is the highly stable state. The ion with $ + 2$ oxidation state loses electrons to generate $ + 3$ oxidation state and ions having $ + 4$ oxidation state accept electrons to form a stable ion.