Rare Earth is a group of 17 elements including 15 lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu) located in the bottom of the Periodic Table from atomic number 57 to 71, and Sc numbered 21 and Y numbered 39. According to the differences in chemical and physical properties, Rare Earth elements are usually grouped into two subgroups: light Rare Earth or ceric group including the first 7 lanthanides from La to Gd, and heavy Rare Earth or yttric group including the rest of the lanthanides, Sc and Y.
|
