From Arsenic to Zirconium

LANTHANUM, La

SPARKS BEYOND COMPARE

La kicks off the lanthanoids, quite soft though not so rare,

Contributes to mischmetal’s blend for sparks beyond compare.

Its Ni₅ ensnares H₂,

Its oxide fine-tunes lenses’ view.

Its CO₃ mops phosphates up for kidneys past repair.

ell-ay

La kicks off the lanthanoids, quite soft though not so rare,

FIRST IN THE LANTHANOID SERIES

The lanthanoids are a family of chemically similar elements that sit in row six of the periodic table. Formerly known as the lanthanides, they get their name from lanthanum, the first member of their family and a metal so soft a knife can cut through it. For many years the lanthanoids ...