| Because it gives glass refractive properties, it is used in expensive camera lenses. Also used in lighter flints, studio lighting, battery electrodes and catalytic converters. Lanthanum is silvery white, malleable, ductile, and soft enough to be cut with a knife. It is one of the most reactive of the
rare-earth metals
. It oxidises rapidly when exposed to air. Cold water attacks lanthanum slowly, and hot water attacks it much more rapidly. The metal reacts directly with elemental carbon, nitrogen, boron, selenium, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, and with
halogens
. It is a component of misch metal (used for making lighter flints). Some
rare-earth
chlorides, such as lanthanum chloride (LaCl3), are known to have anticoagulant properties. |
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