It is an object of the present invention to provide a light emitting element which can reduce defective operation due to crystallization of a compound. One of the light emitting elements of the present invention has a layer, which generates electrons, between a first electrode and a second electrode. The layer generating electrons includes a phenanthroline derivative represented by the general formula (1) and a metal oxide. The metal oxide shows an electron donating property to the phenanthroline derivative represented by the general formula (1). Herein, in the general formula (1), R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 individually represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a halogen group, and further at least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 represents a halogen group. ##STR00001##