The tail of the heavy-rare-earth solvent-extraction cascade; LuF3 is reduced with Ca to metal.
Research Elements Lu · atomic number 71 Lanthanide · period 6 [Xe] 4f14 5d1 6s2 Shells: 2, 8, 18, 32, 9, 2 Valence electrons: 2 in the outer shell (6s2), and 15 in 4f14 5d1 Green dots are the outer shell's s and p electrons. Softer green dots are the d electrons of transition metals, and the d and f electrons of lanthanides and actinides: they often take part in bonding, but not always. Grey dots are the core. Ground-state configuration from the NIST Atomic Spectra Database (A. Kramida, Yu. Ralchenko, J. Reader and the NIST ASD Team). Abundance is the mole fraction of the element found as that isotope on Earth; digits in parentheses are the uncertainty in the last digits. Masses and abundances from NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (J. S. Coursey, D. J. Schwab, J. J. Tsai and R. A. Dragoset, National Institute of Standards and Technology).Lutetium
Electrons
How it's obtained
Natural isotopes
Isotope Relative atomic mass Abundance 175Lu 174.9407752(20) 0.97401(13) 176Lu 175.9426897(20) 0.02599(13)