What are some examples & Uses of Lanthanides?
Although the lanthanide elements, alloys, and compounds have many uses, less expensive alternatives functioning just as efficiently are used where possible. But despite their cost, the unique properties of the lanthanides do sometimes favor their use over cheaper substances, and millions of tons of lanthanides, in metallic, alloy, and compound form, are produced annually. One of the earliest uses involved an alloy of cerium and iron, called Auer metal, which produced a brilliant spark when struck. This has been widely used as a “flint” in cigarette and gas lighters. Auer metal is one of a series of mixed lanthanide alloys called misch metals that have a variety of metallurgical applications. These alloys are composed of varying amounts of the lanthanide metals, mostly cerium and smaller amounts of others such as lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium. They have been used to impart strength, hardness, and inertness to structural materials. They have also been used to remove oxygen and s
