F-35 The American F-35 fighter jet contains more than 400 kg (880 pounds) of rare-earth elements. (more) How Rare Are Rare-Earth Elements? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/How-Rare-Are-Rare-Earth-Elements Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Written by Erik Gregersen Erik Gregersen is a senior editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica, specializing in the physical sciences and technology. Before joining Britannica in 2007, he worked at the University of Chicago Press on the... Erik Gregersen Fact-checked by Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Oct. 10, 2025 •Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Not as rare as plutonium, but rarer than carbon. Come on. Don’t be cute. You’re Encyclopædia Britannica. You have all the answers. There are 17 rare-earth elements. They include the elements from lanthanum to lutetium (atomic numbers 57 to 71), as well as scandium (atomic number 21) and yttrium (atomic number 39). Most of them are actually pretty common. In Earth’s crust, there’s more cerium than copper. There’s more ytterbium than tin. Aside from promethium,...

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