lanthanum
Contributor: Karen Bjorkman
About the Display: This display features:
- An eyepiece from a telescope - Eyepieces similar to this one sometimes contain lanthanum in the glass. The lanthanum improves optical quality and the alkali resistance of glass.
- A Lego ® astronomer - Featured in the Research Institute collection, the astronomer is one of three scientists featured in the discontinued set. The set was selected by Lego® Ideas members after it was proposed by geoscientist Ellen Kooijman.
- Lanthanum Hexaboride (LaB6) - (Donated by Dr. Pannee Burckel) Lanthanum hexaboride is used as a standard to calibrate the Instrumentation Center's Powder X-Ray Diffractometer.
About the Contributor: Dr. Bjorkman is the Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the
University of Toledo
Back to the Periodic Table
Symbol: La
Atomic Number: 57
Atomic Mass: 138.90547 u
Electron Configuration: [Xe] 5d16s2
Year Discovered: 1839
Discovered By: Carl Gustaf Mosander