Rare Earths

If you head south on the periodic table of elements, names like lanthanum, cerium, neodymium and dysprosium pop into view. For those who aren't well versed in the ways of rare earth elements, these terms might not mean much. But for those who understand the importance of rare earth's to industry, especially green industry, well, they might as well be looking at the words "hybrid car battery" and "ceramic oxide superconductor." Seventeen elements make up rare earths; 15 in the lanthanide series, and scandium and yttrium. And, when you consider the range of places rare earths can be found, the seem anything but rare.