Editing Rare-earth element (section)

==Uses==
{{Missing information|advantages of using rare earths over alternatives|date=February 2025}}
{{Pie chart
| thumb=right
| caption=Global REE consumption, 2015.<ref name=zhou2015>{{cite journal |last1=Zhou |first1=Baolu |last2=Li |first2=Zhongxue |last3=Chen |first3=Congcong |title=Global Potential of Rare Earth Resources and Rare Earth Demand from Clean Technologies |journal=Minerals |date=25 October 2017 |volume=7 |issue=11 |page=203 |doi=10.3390/min7110203 |bibcode=2017Mine....7..203Z |quote=See production in Figure 1 on page 2 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
| other=
| label1=[[catalysis|Catalyst]]s, 24%
| value1=24
| color1=red
| label2=Magnets, 23%
| value2=23
| color2=aqua
| label3=Polishing, 12%
| value3=12
| color3=pink
| label4="other", 9%
| value4=9
| color4=fuchsia
| label5=Metallurgy, 8%
| value5=8
| color5=blue
| label6=Batteries, 8%
| value6=8
| color6=green
| label7=Glass, 7%
| value7=7
| color7=yellow
| label8=Ceramics, 6%
| value8=6
| color8=brown
| label9=Phosphors and pigments, 3%
| value9=3
| color9=turquoise
}}

{{Pie chart
| thumb=right
| caption=US consumption of REE, 2018.<ref name=USGS2019>{{cite book |doi=10.3133/70202434 |page=132 |chapter-url=https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nmic/mineral-commodity-summaries |chapter=Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019 |title=Mineral Commodity Summaries |year=2019 |s2cid=239335855 |access-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629183108/https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/ |url-status=live}} <!-- Public domain --></ref>
| other=
| label1=Catalysts, 60%
| value1=60
| color1=red
| label2=Ceramics and glass, 15%
| value2=15
| color2=yellow
| label3=Polishing, 10%
| value3=10
| color3=pink
| label4="other", 5%
| value4=5
| color4=fuchsia
| label5=Metallurgy, 10%
| value5=10
| color5=blue
}}
The uses, applications, and demand for rare-earth elements have expanded over the years. Globally, most REEs are used for [[catalysis|catalyst]]s and magnets.<ref name=zhou2015/> In the US, more than half of REEs are used for catalysts; ceramics, glass, and polishing are also main uses.<ref name=USGS2019/>

Other important uses of rare-earth elements are applicable to the production of high-performance magnets, alloys, glasses, and electronics. Ce and La are important as catalysts, and are used for [[petroleum refining]] and as [[Diesel exhaust fluid|diesel additive]]s. Nd is important in magnet production in traditional and low-carbon technologies. Rare-earth elements in this category are used in the electric motors of [[hybrid vehicle|hybrid]] and [[electric vehicle]]s, generators in some [[wind turbine]]s, hard disc drives, portable electronics, microphones, and speakers.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Ce, La, and Nd are important in alloy making, and in the production of [[fuel cell]]s and [[nickel–metal hydride battery|nickel-metal hydride batteries]]. Ce, Ga, and Nd are important in electronics and are used in the production of LCD and plasma screens, fiber optics, and lasers,<ref>[[F. J. Duarte]] (Ed.), ''Tunable Lasers Handbook'' (Academic, New York, 1995).</ref> and in medical imaging. Additional uses for rare-earth elements are as tracers in medical applications, fertilizers, and in water treatment.<ref name=gsl/>

REEs have been used in agriculture to increase plant growth, productivity, and stress resistance seemingly without negative effects for human and animal consumption. REEs are used in agriculture through REE-enriched fertilizers which is a widely used practice in China.<ref name=Pang>{{cite journal |last1=Pang |first1=Xin |last2=Li |first2=Decheng |last3=Peng |first3=An |s2cid=11359274 |date=2002-03-01 |title=Application of rare-earth elements in the agriculture of China and its environmental behavior in soil |journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research |language=en |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=143–8 |doi=10.1007/BF02987462 |pmid=12008295 |bibcode=2002ESPR....9..143P |issn=0944-1344 |url=http://ir.rcees.ac.cn/handle/311016/23951 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623071752/https://ir.rcees.ac.cn/handle/311016/23951 |url-status=live}}<!--http://ir.rcees.ac.cn/handle/311016/23951--></ref> REEs are feed additives for livestock which has resulted in increased production such as larger animals and a higher production of eggs and dairy products. This practice has resulted in REE bioaccumulation within livestock and has impacted vegetation and algae growth in these agricultural areas.<ref name=Kyung/> While no ill effects have been observed at current low concentrations, the effects over the long term and with accumulation over time are unknown, prompting some calls for more research into their possible effects.<ref name=Pang/><ref name="Ali 123–134"/>