Lutetium

Lutetium (Lu), atomic number 71, is a silvery-white rare earth metal, the last in the lanthanide series and sometimes classified as a transition metal. With an atomic weight of 174.9668 u, lutetium has a relatively high melting point of 1663°C (3025°F), boiling point of 3402°C (6156°F), and substantial density around 9.841 g/cm3. Lutetium is one of the rarest and most expensive naturally occurring rare earths, found only in trace amounts in minerals often accompanied by other rare earths like xenotime.

In electronic applications, lutetium has relatively few but specialized uses. It is utilized as a doping agent in some semiconductor manufacturing processes, improving material performance. Additionally, the radioactive lutetium isotope Lu-177 is used in nuclear medicine, particularly in targeted radionuclide therapy, where it can treat certain cancers like neuroendocrine tumors. QSAM is one of the few manufacturers of lutetium metal shapes in market. Please check the list below for our Lu rods, sputter targets and other products. 

Lutetium also serves as a catalyst in petroleum cracking processes, aiding in refining petroleum products. In research, lutetium is applied in high-precision mass spectrometry standards given its extremely stable atomic weight. While not as widely used as some other rare earths, lutetium remains an indispensable material in its niche applications.

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Introduction to the Element Lutetium