This rare-earth metal of silver-white color has “Swedish roots”: Terbium oxide was extracted almost 180 years ago by scientist from Stockholm, but it was possible to obtain it in its pure form only at the beginning of the twentieth century by the French chemist Georges Urbain. Such innovative methods as ion chromatography are used to obtain terbium.

The physical properties of the metal are unique and make it possible to use it for production of the latest thermo electrics, also in the laser industry, electronics and microelectronics, in the production of cooling systems as well. The study of the properties and capabilities of the metal still continues. Scientists are pretty confident that it has great potential.

Austria is the origin country of this rare-earth metal, and the creator of this metal is a scientist from Vienna Welsbach, who was able to differentiate the didymium, already known at the end of the 19th century. One of the components newly revealed to the world was neodymium, which has a golden color. Today it is mined from the depths by the open-pit method, but even nowadays it can be obtained only in small quantities.

That is why the metal used today in the development of new laser technologies, the creation of high-power magnets used in various fields of activity and fiberglass production has a markedly high cost.

For a long time, rare-earth metal Europium could not be extracted in its pure form, although approximately 50 years before it was officially patented, scientists in different countries of the world carried out its comprehensive study and could accurately characterize its certain qualities. Officially, this soft metal, distinguished by a silver-white tint, made it possible to be extracted only 80 years ago. To preserve the properties of a lead-like element, special conditions are required to be observed in laboratories (special ampoules, paraffin additives, etc.). Its processing is possible only in inert conditions.

The cost of one of the rarest elements of the periodic table is quite high, and the scope of its application includes the following: nuclear power, medicine, laser industry, and electronics.

The name of this element is consonant with the historical name of its region of origin, i.e. Scandinavia. The element has a light, interesting silver-yellow tint. Despite the fact that this element was discovered by a Swedish scientist Lars Nielsen, our legendary compatriot Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev actually anticipated its discovery earlier. Scandium is extracted from processed ores and coal. One of its key manufacturers is Russia. It is used in the following spheres: transportation of electricity, the construction of the cyborgs’ skeleton, the production of heavy-duty steels.

The oxide of this element, named after a Swedish village, was extracted at the end of the 18th century and it was discovered by the Finnish scientist Johan Gadolin. In its pure form, this light-gray metal was obtained only 34 years later by the German chemist Friedrich Wöhler. Yttrium is fire resistant. It has unique thermo electrodynamics properties and is successfully used for the casting of uranium; its alloys are indispensable in the space and aviation industry, nuclear energy, modern automobile structure. Yttrium isotopes are widely used in medicine for the cancer treatment.

The metal having a silvery-white color belongs to the rare-earth elements for a reason: it could not be discovered for 36 years. A new element was hidden in cerite, which was already known at the beginning of the 19th century, therefore it was called “lanthanum”, which means “hidden”, when translated from Greek. The key features of this highly chemically active element are ductility and viscidity. Metal is actively used in the automotive industry, where it is part of batteries. The material is also used in the production of heat-resistant and anti-corrosion alloys.

The silver metal, named after one of the minor planets, was discovered by the German scientist Martin Heinrich Klaproth. The element, the main qualities of which are viscosity and ductility, is obtained by a complex chromatography method. Cerium deposits are located in Russia, Kazakhstan, USA, India, Australia and some other countries. Cerium is widely used in atomic technology, also in industry where it is required to produce durable electrolytes of high-temperature fuel cells, as well as in the medical field, in particular, dentistry.

A silver-colored metal related to the lanthanide group was identified by Austrian scholar Carl Auer von Welsbach. The content of this rare earth metal in the earth's crust is about 9 g per 1 ton, which accounts for its relatively high cost. Laser radiation processes occur due to the ions of this substance. This rare earth metal is used in modern industry to produce high-quality magnetic cores. With its help, the efficiency of cathodes in the field of electro vacuum technology is significantly multiplied. It is also often used as an additive to improve the properties of steel.

This element that is distinguished by its silver glance, is really hard to be obtained, which is underlined in its name. In nature, the element is almost never found in its pure form, however, it is a component of some minerals. Dysprosium oxide was obtained by the Frenchman Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1886, and in its pure form it could only be obtained 20 years later by his compatriot Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier. Dysprosium is actively used in metallurgy with a purpose of improving the processability of alloys.

Its ions are widely used in the laser industry. An effective catalyst is also used in nuclear power. It’s very effective for the production of powerful magnets. Its use is limited in electronics.