Reaction Journal 1

Reaction Journal 1
"Rare Earth"
May 14, 2015 (class in May 1)

 

 

     The best consumer and main producer of rare-earth which is used for color TVs, laptops, cellphones and  hybrid cars is China. Rare-earth is very very very rare, and particulary in Japan, almost no production of rare-earth is there.

 

     Speaking of rare-earth,  we associate it with "rare-metal". By the way, what is difference between rare-earth and rare-metal?

 

     In short rare-earth is one thing, and rare-metal is another. In Japanese, rare-metal is called "希少金属(の総称)", and rare-earth is "希土類元素". Rare-metal is Japanese English, in 1980s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Japan (経済産業省) specify that 47 metals which is difficult to abstruct or produce economically, physically (for example, lithium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt and nickel, ... ).  Actually, rare-metal is "minor-metal" in English. And, it is often called "vitamins of industry, too". Vitamins is chemical substances in food that are essencial for good health, so rare-metal is necessary for industry, too.

 

     On the contrary, rare-earth isn't so rare, because when rare-earth elements are discovered for the first time, the mineral is accidentally rare. Most of them is in the 3 group of the periodic table (周期表3族), and their nature is resembles. They is used for powerful magnet, laser, light-emitting diodes (LED), catalyst, etc.

 

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     And, this day was special for me. After class, I and Akari met Dr.Elwood and Mr.Frazer by chance. He talked many things, for example favorite food, color, artist and Japanese after Dr.Elwood leaving, too. Finally, we took a photo together. It was unforgettable experience. :)