The 17 rare-earth metals and some of their common applications

Sc Scandium: Atomic weight 21.

Used to strengthen aluminium alloys Y Yttrium: Atomic weight 39. Used in superconductors and exotic light sources

La Lanthanum: Atomic weight 57. Used in specialty glasses and optics, electrodes and hydrogen storage

Ce Cerium: Atomic weight 58. Makes an excellent oxidiser, used in oil cracking during petroleum refining and used for yellow colouring in ceramics and glass Nd Neodymium: Atomic weight 60. Used in magnets, lasers and as purple color in ceramics and glass Pm Promethium: Atomic weight 61. Used in nuclear batteries. Only man-made isotopes have ever been observed on Earth, with a speculated 500–600 grams  naturally occurring on the planet Sm Samarium: Atomic weight 62. Used in magnets, lasers and neutron capture Eu Europium: Atomic weight 63. Makes coloured phosphors, lasers, and mercury-vapour lamps Gd Gadolinium: Atomic weight 64.

Used in magnets, specialty optics, and computer memory

Tb Terbium: Atomic weight 65. Used as green in ceramics and paints, and in lasers and fluorescent lamps Dy Dysprosium: Atomic weight 66. Used in magnets and lasers

Ho Holmium: Atomic weight 67. Used in lasers Er Erbium: Atomic weight 68. Used in steel alloyed with vanadium, as well as in lasers Tm Thulium: Atomic weight 69. Used in portable X-ray equipment Yb Ytterbium: Atomic weight 70. Used in infrared lasers Also works as a great chemical reducer

Lu Lutetium: Atomic weight 71. Used in spe cialty glass and radiology equipment