lutetium

[loo-tee-shee-uh m] /luˈti ʃi əm/

noun, Chemistry

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

Also, lutecium.

Origin of lutetium

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

British Dictionary definitions for lutetium

lutetium

/lʊˈtiːʃɪəm/

noun

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

Word Origin

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

lutetium in Medicine

lutetium lu·te·ti·um or lu·te·ci·um (lōō-tē'shē-əm)
n.
Symbol Lu
A rare-earth element, used in nuclear research. Atomic number 71; atomic weight 174.97; melting point 1,663°C; boiling point 3,393°C; specific gravity 9.841 (at 25°C); valence 3.

lutetium in Science

lutetium

(l-tē'shē-əm)
Symbol Lu
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.