Lanthanium

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Lanthanum \Lan"tha*num\ (l[a^]n"th[.a]*n[u^]m), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
     lanqa`nein to lie hid, to be concealed.] (Chem.)
     A rare element of the rare earth group of the metals, of
     atomic number 57, allied to aluminum. It occurs in certain
     rare minerals, as cerite, gadolinite, orthite, etc., and was
     so named from the difficulty of separating it from cerium,


     didymium, and other rare earth elements with which it is
     usually associated. Atomic weight 138.9. Symbol La. [Formerly
     written also {lanthanium}.]
     [1913 Webster]