Lanthanum

Lanthanum in a glass tube.

Lanthanum is a chemical element. It has the chemical symbol La. It has the atomic number 57. It is part of a group of chemical elements in the periodic table named the Lanthanides. It is a rare earth element. It is silvery white, malleable and ductile. It is soft and can be cut with a knife.

Lanthanum Media

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  Excerpt from the chart of nuclides showing stable isotopes (black) from barium ( Z = 56 ) to neodymium ( Z = 60 )

• Mosander Carl Gustav bw.jpg

  Carl Gustaf Mosander, the scientist who discovered lanthanum as well as terbium and erbium

• Monazite acid cracking process.svg

  Production of Lanthanum from Monazite sand

• LaB6HotCathode.jpg

  LaB₆ hot cathode