The rare earth elements have received increasing interest as their application in high tech products continues to evolve. This presentation will discuss the discoveries of some of these elements and the history behind their names. Topics include the discovery of the mineral ytterbite by Carl Axel Arrhenius in 1787 at the Ytterby quarry in Sweden and the contributions of famous chemists, Johan Gadolin, J�ns Jacob Berzelius, and lesser known contributors, to the chemistry of these elements. Also discussed will be the search for element 61 a mystery only solved by the research resulting from the Manhattan Project. In addition, how the unique chemistry of these elements provided a challenge to separation chemists for 160 years and is continuing to provide difficulties today will be explained.

Rare earth elements: Are they really rare and where did the unusual names come from?

248th National Meeting (2014)

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