Properties of Lutetium (Lu)

Lutetium is a chemical element with the symbol (Lu) and atomic number 71. It belongs to the lanthanide series, a group of rare-earth elements. Lutetium is a silvery-white, rare metal, and it is the last element in the lanthanide series. It is often used in various applications, such as in the production of certain types of catalysts, phosphors for LED lights, and in medical imaging devices.

The following table provides a comprehensive list of lutetium (Lu) properties in both SI and US customary/Imperial units at normal temperature and pressure (NTP).

Click on the icon to switch between Metric and Imperial units.

Table of Lutetium Properties
Physical Properties
Metric
Crystal StructureHexagonal close-packed (hcp)
Atomic Number71
Molar Mass174.967 g/mol
Density9840 kg/m3
Mechanical PropertiesMetric
Young’s Modulus (E)68.6 GPa
Shear Modulus (G)27.2 GPa
Bulk Modulus (K)47.6 GPa
Poisson’s Ratio (ν)0.261
Thermal PropertiesMetric
Melting Point1663 °C
Boiling Point3400 °C
Thermal Conductivity (27°C)16.4 W/m·K
Specific Heat Capacity (Cp) (25°C)154 J/kg·K
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (αL) (25°C)9.9×10-6 1/°C
Electrical PropertiesMetric
Electrical Resistivity5.82×10-5 Ω·cm

Unless stated otherwise, all values are taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atm pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)

References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) A.M. Howatson, P.G. Lun, J.D. Todd, P.D. Engineering Tables and Data. United Kingdom: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, 2009.