Cadmium (Cd), Thallium (Tl), Indium (In).
These three elements are ‘grouped’ together in the periodic table. Why are they of interest?
Triple A Learning IB Blogs
January 20, 2011
January 11, 2011
The Missing Link of Astronomy?
The American Astronomical Society has announced a discovery that it is heralding ‘ will be marked as among the most profound scientific discoveries in human history.’ 1
So, what discovery could this possibly refer to?
December 23, 2010
What is all the fuss?
If you have been following this blog you will have noticed that over the last month or so I have concentrated on the rare earth elements. But why?
Well, the idea beind this was inspired by an article I read in the Sunday Times on the 31st October 2010, titled, ‘China’s new tradewall’. This has also been covered on the BBC website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11581288)
December 22, 2010
Rare Earth’s – Lutetium
Lutetium, Lu, atomic number 71.
Lutetium was named after Lutetia, the city that we call Paris. It was the Romans who named it Lutetia.
December 21, 2010
Rare Earth’s – Ytterbium
Ytterbium, Yb, atomic number 70 and is the least abundant of the rare earth elements, although, it is twice as abundant as tin!
Discovered by the Swiss chemist Marignac in 1878 who discovered a new substance erbia and named it ytterbia after after Ytterby, the Swedish village close to where Marignac discovered the element.
December 15, 2010
Rare Earth’s – Thulium
Thulium, Tm, atomic number 69.
Thulium is the least abundant of the rare earth elements. It is named after the mythical land of Thule. Thule also manufacture roof boxes but I am assured that they are not made out of the element! 
December 13, 2010
Rare Earth’s – Erbium
Erbium, Er, atomic number 68.
Erbium’s name came from its discovery along with Yttrium by Mosander in 1843.
December 9, 2010
Rare Earth’s – Holmium
Holmium, Ho, atomic number 67.
Discovered in 1878 by Delafontaine and Soret. Holmium is the Latin name for Stockholm. As you are probably realising, much work on the rare earth’s was carried out in Scandinavia.
December 7, 2010
Rare Earth’s – Terbium
Terbium, Tb, atomic number 65.
This rare earh has applications in fuel cells, alloys and sonar systems.
December 3, 2010
Rare Earth’s – Europium
Europium, symbol Eu, atomic mass 63.
Europium is a super conductor at around 2K. It is used interestingly to screen for genetic disorders such as Down’s syndrome. It is also being considered to be used in nuclear reactors as it is a very good neutron absorber (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europium – accessed on 3rd Dec 2010).
