It is an object of the present invention to provide a light emitting element, which is resistant to repetition of an oxidation reaction. It is another object of the invention to provide a light emitting element, which is resistant to repetition of a reduction reaction. An anthracene derivative is represented by a general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R1 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R2 represents any one of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, R3 represents any one of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, Ph1 represents a phenyl group, and X1 represents an arylene group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms.