Rare earth element

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/rare-earth-element

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered Rare earth element?Late 18th century to early 20th century
2. What is the element group?17 elements: 15 lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium
3. What is the key mineral sources?Bastnäsite, monazite, xenotime, and ion-adsorption clays

Lanthanide Contraction: The gradual decrease in atomic and ionic radii of the lanthanide elements with increasing atomic number.
Solvent Extraction: A chemical process used to separate and purify rare earth elements based on their differing solubilities in various solvents.
NdFeB Magnets: Neodymium-iron-boron magnets, the strongest type of permanent magnets known, essential for many high-tech applications.
Geopolitical Vulnerability: A country's susceptibility to disruptions in the supply of critical resources due to reliance on a limited number of foreign sources.