Rare Earth Elements

Element Symbol Type Rarity Uses
Lanthanum La Light Abundant Camera Lenses;
        Battery Electrodes;
        Pertoleum Catalysts
Cerium Ce Light Abundant Glass Polishing;
        Catalytic Converters
Praseodymium Pr Light Abundant Magnets;
        Aircraft Engines;
        Arc Lights
Neodymium Nd Light Abundant Strong Magnets (EV, wind turbines);
        Headphones
Promethium Pm Light Rare Nuclear Batteries;
        Research;
Samarium Sm Heavy Abundant Magnets;
        Nuclear Reactors
Europium Eu Heavy Rare Red Phosphors in Displays;
        Banknote Security
Gadolinium Gd Heavy Abundant MRI Contrast Agent;
        Nuclear Reactors
Terbium Tb Heavy Rare Green Phosphors;
        Magnetostrictive Alloys
Dysprosium Dy Heavy Rare High-temp Magnets;
        Nuclear
Holmium Ho Heavy Rare Lasers;
        Nuclear Control Rods
Erbium Er Heavy Rare Lasers;
        Fiber Optic Communication
Thulium Tm Heavy Rare Portable X-Rays;
        Lasers
Ytterbium Yb Heavy Rare Stress Gauges;
        Lasers
Lutetium Lu Heavy Rare PET Scans;
        Refining Catalysts
Yttrium Y Heavy Abundant Superconductors;
        LED Phosphors;
        Ceramics

References