Rare earth compositions comprising nanoparticles, methods of making nanoparticles, and methods of using nanoparticles are described. The compositions of the nanomaterials discussed may include scandium (Sc), yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu). The nanoparticles can be used to make organometallics, nitrates, and hydroxides. The nanoparticles can be used in a variety of applications, such as pigments, catalysts, polishing agents, coatings, electroceramics, catalysts, optics, phosphors, and detectors.