The rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 metallic elements with similar chemical properties. Despite their name, most are fairly abundant — but they are rarely found in concentrated, easily mined deposits.

With some help from ChatGPT here is the full list, grouped as usually classified, along with their main uses:

 

I. Light Rare Earth Elements (LREEs)

Lanthanum    La

Camera lenses, catalytic converters, rechargeable batteries (e.g. NiMH), optical glass.

Cerium   Ce

Catalytic converters, glass polishing powders, self-cleaning ovens, lighter flints.

Praseodymium   Pr

Magnets, aircraft engines (as alloying agent), green glass and ceramics.

Neodymium   Nd

Powerful permanent magnets (in wind turbines, headphones, hard drives, EV motors).

Promethium   Pm

Very rare and radioactive; used in luminous paint, atomic batteries, and research.

Samarium   Sm

Strong magnets (SmCo), neutron absorbers in nuclear reactors, specialized optical glass.

II. Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREEs)

Europium   Eu

Red and blue phosphors in LED and TV screens, fluorescent lamps, anti-counterfeiting in euro banknotes.

Gadolinium   Gd

MRI contrast agents, neutron shielding, magnets, and phosphors.

Terbium   Tb

Green phosphors in displays, solid-state devices, fuel cells, and magnetostrictive materials.

Dysprosium   Dy

Added to NdFeB magnets to improve heat resistance (critical in EVs and turbines).

Holmium   Ho

Lasers, magnetic flux concentrators, nuclear control rods.

Erbium   Er

Fibre-optic amplifiers (telecoms), pink glass, lasers for dermatology and dentistry.

Thulium   Tm

Portable X-ray machines, lasers, and electronic devices.

Ytterbium   Yb

Fibre-optic cables, stress gauges, lasers, and as a doping agent in stainless steel.

Lutetium   Lu

PET scan detectors, catalysts in refining, and medical imaging isotopes.

III. Related Elements

Scandium   Sc

Aerospace alloys, solid oxide fuel cells, and sports equipment (e.g. bicycle frames, bats).

Yttrium   Y

LEDs, phosphors, ceramics, superconductors, and alloys.