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Lutetium (Lu)
Element with atomic number 71, category: Lanthanide, a solid at room temperature.
Element 71 of 118
Lanthanide
Lutetium
Group 17, Period 6 (lanthanide series)
Common Uses
PET scans
Electron Diagram
About Lutetium
Lutetium is a chemical element with the symbol Lu and atomic number 71, meaning every atom has 71 protons in its nucleus. It is classed as Lanthanide and is a solid at room temperature. Its atomic mass is about 174.967 atomic mass units (u).
On the periodic table, Lutetium sits in group 17, period 6 (lanthanide series), which determines how many electron shells it has and how it tends to react with other elements.
Uses of Lutetium
In daily life and industry, Lutetium is used for PET scans. These uses are closely tied to the typical properties of elements in the Lanthanide category.
Electron Structure of Lutetium
Using a simplified electron shell model (at most 2 electrons in the first shell, 8 in the second, 18 in the third, and so on), Lutetium has 5 electron shells, with an approximate arrangement of 2, 8, 18, 32, 11 electrons from the innermost shell to the outermost. This is a simplified learning model, not the full electron configuration that accounts for the s, p, d and f subshells.
Explore Other Elements
Want to see another element or try the element symbol quiz? Go back to the Interactive Periodic Table to explore all 118 chemical elements.