稀土元素是指周期表中第21、39和57～71共17种元素。它们具有光、电、磁等一系列独特的功能性质,因而在新技术革命中起着重大的作用,被誉为新材料的宝库。美日等国都把除第61号钷以外的16种稀土元素列入高技术元素的范围内。国外稀土科学的基础研究十分活跃,几乎每隔三五年就有一次突破性的进展。例如1962年发现稀土分子筛用于石油的催化裂解,使石油产量 Rare earth elements refers to the periodic table of 21,39 and 57 ~ 71 total of 17 elements. They have a series of unique functional properties such as light, electricity and magnetism. They play a significant role in the revolution of new technology and are praised as the treasure house of new materials. Countries such as the United States and Japan include 16 rare earth elements other than the 61st one in the range of high-tech elements. The basic research of rare earth science abroad is very active, with breakthrough progress in almost every 35 years. For example, rare-earth molecular sieves were found in 1962 for the catalytic cracking of petroleum to yield oil