lutetium

or lu·te·ci·um

[ loo-tee-shee-uhm ]

nounChemistry.
  1. a trivalent rare-earth element. Symbol: Lu; atomic weight: 174.97; atomic number: 71.

Origin of lutetium

1
1905–10; <Latin Lūtēt(ia) Paris + -ium

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British Dictionary definitions for lutetium

lutetium

lutecium

/ (lʊˈtiːʃɪəm) /


noun
  1. a silvery-white metallic element of the lanthanide series, occurring in monazite and used as a catalyst in cracking, alkylation, and polymerization. Symbol: Lu; atomic no: 71; atomic wt: 174.967; valency: 3; relative density: 9.841; melting pt: 1663°C; boiling pt: 3402°C

Origin of lutetium

1
C19: New Latin, from Latin Lūtētia ancient name of Paris, home of G. Urbain (1872–1938), French chemist, who discovered it

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for lutetium

lutetium

[ lōō-tēshē-əm ]


Lu
  1. A silvery-white metallic element of the lanthanide series that is used in nuclear technology. Its radioactive isotope is used in determining the age of meteorites. Atomic number 71; atomic weight 174.97; melting point 1,663°C; boiling point 3,395°C; specific gravity 9.840 (at 25°C); valence 3. See Periodic Table.

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