Lutetium (Lu)
Lutetium is the last and heaviest element in the lanthanide series, used in PET scan detectors.
Properties of Lutetium
- Atomic number
- 71
- Category
- Lanthanide
- Atomic mass
- 174.97 u
- Electron configuration
- [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹ 6s²
- Melting point
- 1925 K (1651.85 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3675 K (3401.85 °C)
- Density
- 9.84 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.27
- Appearance
- Silvery-white metal
- Discovered by
- Georges Urbain (1907)
Facts about Lutetium
- Lutetium is named after Lutetia, the ancient name for Paris!
- Lutetium is the hardest and densest of all the lanthanides!
- Lutetium is used in PET scanners that detect cancer in hospitals!
- Lutetium is one of the most expensive metals on Earth!