Super Hero of Rare Earths

Chemistry book facts about Gadolinium : Gadolinium is a light rare earth element (LREE) used in nuclear reactor control rods to regulate the fission process. In 1886 Lecoq de Boisbaudran separated gadolinium metal from the oxide. He named the silvery-white metallic metal that is both malleable and ductile after Finnish Chemist Johan Gadolin who discovered the first rare earth in 1794. Gadolinium is a versatile rare earth, so much so that it is referred to as the superhero of rare earths.