Rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of 17 chemical elements found in the periodic table, including lanthanides and scandium and yttrium. They are essential in various high-tech applications, such as smartphones, electric vehicles, and renewable energy technologies. Despite their name, these elements are not particularly rare in the Earth's crust but are often dispersed and difficult to extract economically. These elements play a crucial role in modern technology due to their unique properties, such as magnetism and luminescence. The demand for rare earth elements has increased significantly, leading to concerns about supply chain stability and environmental impacts associated with their mining and processing.