Compare Lanthanum vs Lutetium: Periodic Table Element Comparison Table and Properties

Compare the elements Lanthanum and Lutetium on the basis of their properties, attributes and periodic table facts. Compare elements - Lanthanum and Lutetium comparison table side by side across over 90 properties. All the elements of similar categories show a lot of similarities and differences in their chemical, atomic, physical properties and uses. These similarities and dissimilarities should be known while we study periodic table elements. You can study the detailed comparison between Lanthanum vs Lutetium with most reliable information about their properties, attributes, facts, uses etc. You can compare La vs Lu on more than 90 properties like electronegativity, oxidation state, atomic shells, orbital structure, Electronaffinity, physical states, electrical conductivity and many more. This in-depth comparison helps students, educators, researchers, and science enthusiasts understand the differences and similarities between Lanthanum and Lutetium.

Lanthanum and Lutetium Comparison

Here's a detailed comparison between Lanthanum (La) and Lutetium (Lu), focusing on their position in the periodic table, physical and chemical properties, stability, and uses.

Facts - Basic Element Details

NameLanthanumLutetium
Atomic Number5771
Atomic SymbolLaLu
Atomic Weight138.9055 174.967
Phase at STPSolid Solid
ColorSilver Silver
Metallic ClassificationLanthanide Lanthanide
Group in Periodic TableLanthanide (no group number)group 3
Group Namescandium family
Period in Periodic Tableperiod 6 period 6
Block in Periodic Tablef -blockd -block
Electronic Configuration[Xe] 5d1 6s2 [Xe] 4f14 5d1 6s2
Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell)2, 8, 18, 18, 9, 22, 8, 18, 32, 9, 2
Melting Point1193 K1936 K
Boiling Point3737 K3675 K
CAS NumberCAS7439-91-0 CAS7439-94-3
Neighborhood ElementsNeighborhood Elements of LanthanumNeighborhood Elements of Lutetium

History

ParameterLanthanumLutetium
HistoryThe element Lanthanum was discovered by G. Mosander in year 1838 in Sweden. Lanthanum derived its name from the Greek lanthanein, meaning 'to lie hidden'.The element Lutetium was discovered by C. A. von Welsbach and G. Urbain in year 1906 in France and Germany. Lutetium derived its name from Lutetia, the Latin name for Paris.
DiscoveryG. Mosander (1838)C. A. von Welsbach and G. Urbain (1906)
IsolatedG. Mosander (1841)C. A. von Welsbach (1906)

Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us

Parts per billion (ppb) by weight / by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %)

PropertyLanthanumLutetium
Abundance in Universe2 / 0.020.1 / 0.001
Abundance in Sun2 / 0.011 / 0.01
Abundance in Meteorites290 / 4030 / 3
Abundance in Earth's Crust34000 / 5000560 / 70
Abundance in Oceans0.0034 / 0.000150.00015 / 0.000005
Abundance in Humans- / -- / -

Crystal Structure and Atomic Structure

PropertyLanthanumLutetium
Atomic Volume22.386 cm3/mol17.78 cm3/mol
Atomic Radius195 pm217 pm
Covalent Radius169 pm160 pm
Van der Waals Radius- -

Atomic Spectrum - Spectral Lines

Emission SpectrumEmission Spectrum of Lanthanum | SchoolMyKidsEmission Spectrum of Lutetium | SchoolMyKids
Absorption SpectrumAbsorption Spectrum of Lanthanum | SchoolMyKidsAbsorption Spectrum of Lutetium | SchoolMyKids
Lattice Constant377.2, 377.2, 1214.4 pm350.31, 350.31, 555.09 pm
Lattice Angleπ/2, π/2, 2 π/3π/2, π/2, 2 π/3
Space Group NameP63/mmc P63/mmc
Space Group Number194 194
Crystal Structure

Simple Hexagonal

57 La Lanthanum - Crystal Structure | SchoolMyKids

Simple Hexagonal

71 Lu Lutetium - Crystal Structure | SchoolMyKids

Atomic and Orbital Properties

PropertyLanthanumLutetium
Atomic Number5771
Number of Electrons (with no charge)5771
Number of Protons5771
Mass Number138.9055174.967
Number of Neutrons82104
Shell structure (Electrons per energy level)2, 8, 18, 18, 9, 22, 8, 18, 32, 9, 2
Electron Configuration[Xe] 5d1 6s2 [Xe] 4f14 5d1 6s2
Valence Electrons5d1 6s2 5d1 6s2
Oxidation State33
Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers)2D3/2 2D3/2
Shell structure57 La Lanthanum Electron Shell Structure | SchoolMyKids71 Lu Lutetium Electron Shell Structure | SchoolMyKids

Isotopes and Nuclear Properties

Lanthanum has 1 stable naturally occuring isotopes while Lutetium has 1 stable naturally occuring isotopes.

ParameterLanthanumLutetium
Known Isotopes117La, 118La, 119La, 120La, 121La, 122La, 123La, 124La, 125La, 126La, 127La, 128La, 129La, 130La, 131La, 132La, 133La, 134La, 135La, 136La, 137La, 138La, 139La, 140La, 141La, 142La, 143La, 144La, 145La, 146La, 147La, 148La, 149La, 150La, 151La, 152La, 153La, 154La, 155La150Lu, 151Lu, 152Lu, 153Lu, 154Lu, 155Lu, 156Lu, 157Lu, 158Lu, 159Lu, 160Lu, 161Lu, 162Lu, 163Lu, 164Lu, 165Lu, 166Lu, 167Lu, 168Lu, 169Lu, 170Lu, 171Lu, 172Lu, 173Lu, 174Lu, 175Lu, 176Lu, 177Lu, 178Lu, 179Lu, 180Lu, 181Lu, 182Lu, 183Lu, 184Lu
Stable IsotopesNaturally occurring stable isotopes:

139La

Naturally occurring stable isotopes:

175Lu

Neutron Cross Section 8.98 84
Neutron Mass Absorption 0.0023 0.022

Chemical Properties: Ionization Energies and electron affinity

PropertyLanthanumLutetium
Valence or Valency3 3
Electronegativity1.1 Pauling Scale1.27 Pauling Scale
Oxidation State33
Electron Affinity48 kJ/mol50 kJ/mol
Ionization Energies
1st: 538.1 kJ/mol
2nd: 1067 kJ/mol
3rd: 1850.3 kJ/mol
4th: 4819 kJ/mol
5th: 5940 kJ/mol
1st: 523.5 kJ/mol
2nd: 1340 kJ/mol
3rd: 2022.3 kJ/mol
4th: 4370 kJ/mol
5th: 6445 kJ/mol

Physical Properties

Lanthanum (6.146 g/cm³) is less dense than Lutetium (9.841 g/cm³). This means that a given volume of Lutetium will be heavier than the same volume of Lanthanum. Lutetium is about 60.099999999999994 denser than Lanthanum

PropertyLanthanumLutetium
Phase at STPSolid Solid
ColorSilver Silver
Density6.146 g/cm39.841 g/cm3
Density (when liquid (at melting point))5.94 g/cm39.3 g/cm3
Molar Volume22.386 cm3/mol17.78 cm3/mol

Mechanical and Hardness Properties

PropertyLanthanumLutetium

Elastic Properties

Young Modulus37 69
Shear Modulus14 GPa27 GPa
Bulk Modulus28 GPa48 GPa
Poisson Ratio0.28 0.26

Hardness - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element

Mohs Hardness2.5 MPa-
Vickers Hardness491 MPa1160 MPa
Brinell Hardness363 MPa893 MPa

Thermal and Electrical Conductivity

PropertyLanthanumLutetium

Heat and Conduction Properties

Thermal Conductivity13 W/(m K)16 W/(m K)
Thermal Expansion0.0000121 /K0.0000099 /K

Electrical Properties

Electrical Conductivity1600000 S/m1800000 S/m
Resistivity 6.1e-7 m Ω5.59e-7 m Ω
Superconducting Point4.88 0.1

Magnetic and Optical Properties

PropertyLanthanumLutetium

Magnetic Properties

Magnetic TypeParamagnetic Paramagnetic
Curie Point- -
Mass Magnetic Susceptibility1.1e-8 m3/kg1.2e-9 m3/kg
Molar Magnetic Susceptibility1.528e-9 m3/mol2.1e-10 m3/mol
Volume Magnetic Susceptibility0.00006761 0.0000118

Optical Properties

Refractive Index- -

Acoustic Properties

Speed of Sound2475 m/s-

Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics

PropertyLanthanumLutetium
Melting Point1193 K1936 K
Boiling Point3737 K3675 K
Critical Temperature- -
Superconducting Point4.88 0.1

Enthalpies

Heat of Fusion6.2 kJ/mol22 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization400 kJ/mol415 kJ/mol
Heat of Combustion- -

Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines

ParameterLanthanumLutetium
CAS NumberCAS7439-91-0 CAS7439-94-3
RTECS Number- -
DOT Hazard Class4.1 4.1
DOT Numbers3178 3089
EU Number- -
NFPA Fire Rating- -
NFPA Health Rating- -
NFPA Reactivity Rating- -
NFPA Hazards- -
AutoIgnition Point- -
Flashpoint- -

Compare Lanthanum and Lutetium With Other Elements

Compare Lanthanum and Lutetium with other elements of the periodic table. Explore howLanthanum and Lutetium stack up against other elements of the periodic table. Use our interactive comparison tool to analyze 90+ properties across different metals, non-metals, metalloids, and noble gases. Understanding these differences is crucial for applications in engineering, chemistry, electronics, biology, and material science.

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