Lutetium is a member of the lanthanide series of elements, which stretches from lanthanum (La) to lutetium (Lu).

The element was one of the last of the lanthanides to be discovered. It was found independently in1907-08 by Auer and Urbain. Using the new technique of ion separation, they found that samples of the recently discovered element ytterbium actually consisted of two elements, ytterbium and a new element, lutetium. Urbain and Auer both chose names for the element, with Urbain's choice eventually being adopted.

The metal is the hardest of the lanthanides and also the densest. The metal is relatively stable in air. In the solid state, the metal has a hexagonal closest packed structure.

Lutetium is the most difficult of the lanthanides to prepare. As in the case of other lanthanides, it can be made by reducing a halide with an active metal at high temperature in an inert atmosphere.

2 Ca(s) + 2 LuF₃(s) 2 Lu(s) + 3 CaF₂(s)