La Lanthanum     Atomic number : 57 
    Relative atomic mass (12C = 12.0000) :  138.9055 
    P H Y S I C A L     D A T A
Group 3 transition metal
 
Density / kg m-3 :  6145 [298 K]
 
Melting point / K :  1194 
 
Boiling point / K :  3730
 
    D I S C O V E R Y
Discovered in 1839 by C.G. Mosander at Stockholm, Sweden.
 
    G E O L O G I C A L     D A T A
Abundances
 
Sun (relative to H = 1 × 1012) : 13.5
 
Earth's crust / p.p.m. : 32
 
Residence time / years : 200
 
Classification : recycled
 
Oxidation state : III
 
  
 
Seawater / p.p.m. :
    Atlantic surface : 1.8 × 10-6
    Atlantic deep : 3.8 × 10-6
    Pacific surface : 2.6 × 10-6
    Pacific deep : 6.9 × 10-6
    B I O L O G I C A L     D A T A
Level in humans
 
Blood / mg dm-3 : n.a.
 
Bone / p.p.m. : < 0.08
 
Liver / p.p.m. : 0.3
 
Muscle / p.p.m. : 0.0004
 
  
 
Daily dietary intake : n.a., but very low
 
Total mass of element
in average (70 kg) person :
c. 0.8 mg

 

NetElements II  

A portrait of lanthanum is available on the Visual Elements site. Up to 200 individual items of information on this element are available in The Elements.


Text copyright John Emsley 1999.   HTML and page layout copyright Simon Hall 1999.
Unauthorised reproduction of any aspect of this site is strictly prohibited.
NetElements II last modified October 27th, 1999