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Element 57 - Lanthanum (La)
From
lanthanein
to lie hidden; discovered 1839; highly reactive. Because it gives glass special light-bending, or "refractive properties, lanthanum is used in expensive camera lenses. Rasioactive lantahnum has been tested for use in treating cancer.
Properties
Atomic Number
:
57
Atomic Weight
:
138.9055
Electron Configuration
(at ground state):
1s
2
2s
2
2p
6
3s
2
3p
6
3d
10
4s
2
4p
6
4d
10
5s
2
5p
6
5d
1
6s
2
Oxidation States
(Bold most stable):
+3
Boiling Point
(K):
3737
Melting Point (K):
1191
Density
(at 300K -- g/cm
3
):
6.15
Atomic Volume (at 300K -- cm
3
/mol)
22.5
Number of stable
isotopes
:
1
Number of natural
radioactive
isotopes:
1
Mass Number
(Bold naturally occurring) --
Half-Life
--
Disintigration Type
:
137 -- 6 x 10
4
years -- orbital
electron capture
140 -- 40.3 hours --
beta particle
(
electron
) emission
Covalent Radius (Å):
1.25
Atomic Radius (Å):
1.38
First
Ionization Potential
(V):
5.58
Electronegativity
(Pauling's):
1.10
Specific Heat
Capacity (at 300K -- J g
-1
K
-1
):
0.19
Heat of Vaporization (kJ/mol):
399.57
Heat of Fusion (kJ/mol):
11.3
Electrical Conductivity (at 293K for polycrystalline material -- 10
6
-1
cm
-1
):
1.9
Thermal Conductivity (at 300K -- W m
-1
K
-1
):
13.5
Crystal Structure:
Hexagonal
Acid
-
Base
Properties:
Very basic