GENERAL DISCUSSION OF

LANTHANIDES AND ACTINIDES

DR SYEDA SUMRA NAQVI

➢ f- block elements
➢ Their Classification
f-Block Elements/Inner
➢ Position of Lanthanides in Periodic table
➢ Occurrence
Transition Elements
➢ Electronic configuration
➢ Oxidation states
➢ Magnetic properties
➢ Color
➢ Complex formation
➢ Electrode potential
➢ Lanthanides Contraction and its consequences
➢ Actinides Contraction and its consequences
➢ Comparison of lanthanides and actinides
➢ Application of lanthanides and actinides and its compounds
 INNER TRANSITION ELEMENTS

The elements in which the additional electron enters (n-2)f orbitals

are called f-block elements. The valence shell electronic configuration
of these elements can be represented as (n – 2)f0-14(n – 1)d0-1ns2. The
elements constituting the f-block are those in which 4f and 5f orbitals
are progressively filled. These elements are formal members of group
3 but are shown separately as f-block of the periodic table. The
elements of f-block are also called inner transition elements.
 Why f-block elements placed outside separately?
It is interesting to note that the f block elements (lanthanides and
actinides) are placed outside the body of the periodic table. The
reason for this is the remarkable similarities among the chemical
properties of the lanthanides and also among the various members of
actinides. The similarities in properties, in turn, is due to the similar
electronic configuration of the outermost shell. These elements differ
only in the number of f-electrons which do not take part in chemical
bonding (difference from d-block elements in which differentiating d-
electrons are involved in chemical interaction).
 Classification of f-block Elements
F-block elements classified into two
• First inner Transition 4f series Lanthanoids
• Second inner Transition 5f Series actinoids
 First inner Transition 4f Series Lanthanoids
It starts from Lanthanum and ends at Lutetium
They are known as Lanthanoids or Lanthanones.
4f inner transition metals are known as lanthanides because they
come immediately after lanthanum.
 Second inner Transition 5f Series actinoids
It starts from Actinium and ends at Lawrencium
They are known Actinides or Actinones
5f inner transition metals are known as actinoids because they
come immediately after actinium.
 Position of Lanthanoids in Periodic Table

In case of Lanthanides 4f orbital is progressively filled.

➢Lanthanides contain 14 elements from Ce (Atomic number 58)
to Lu (Atomic number 71), which are situated at the bottom of
Periodic table, just above Actinides.
➢Lanthanum (La), which is a d-block element, has physical as
well as chemical properties very much similar to 4-f block
elements, due to this reason La is also considered to be the
member of Lanthanides and is studied with them.
➢Lanthanides are present in 6th period and in group III B of
periodic table.
 Occurrence of Lanthanoids in Periodic Table

✓ Lanthanides are previously called rare earths, but their sources are
unlimited. rare earths are fairly abundant, but their availability is somewhat
limited, primarily because their concentration levels in many ores are quite
low.
✓ Each lanthanide mineral contain all the lanthanides in different
proportions, except Promethium (Pm) which is unstable being radioactive.
✓ Lanthanum and the light lanthanides (cerium through europium) are more
abundant than the heavy lanthanides (gadolinium through lutetium).
✓ Furthermore, the metals with even atomic numbers (cerium, neodymium,
samarium, gadolinium, dysprosium, erbium, and ytterbium) are more
abundant than their neighbours with odd atomic numbers (lanthanum,
praseodymium, promethium, europium, terbium, holmium, thulium, and
lutetium).
 Classification of Lanthanides
Lanthanide minerals can be divided into two sub-groups:
Cerium group minerals
Yttrium group minerals
1. Cerium group mineral:
They are also called cerite earth minerals or cerium earth and rich incerite earth.
This groups contains largely elements of atomic no from (57La to 63Eu)
Example:
Monazite
Monazite minerals which contain oxide of cerium, yttrium, thorium, silicate and trace
amount of uranium and Phosphate of Cerium earths. General formula is RPO4, where
R is the lanthanide.
Bastnaesite
b) Bastnaesite mineral contains mixed fluoride and carbonates and contains cerium and
yttrium earth with trace of thorium. General formula is RFCO3.
2. Ytterium group Minerals
This group of Lanthanides contain largely the heavier lanthanides.
This group contains the elements, known as Yttrium earths, with atomic
number from 64 to 71 (gadolinium through lutetium)
Two major minerals which contain Yttrium group minerals are euxenite and
gadolinite.
Example:
Euxenite
Euxenite mineral contains oxides of yttrium, cerium, thorium and trace
amount of Niobium and tantalum Penta oxide.
Gadolinite
Gadolinite mineral contains oxide of yttrium, cerium, Beryllium with trace
amount of tellurium.
 Electronic Configuration of Lanthanides

✓ The Lanthanides have similarities in their electron configuration, which

explains most of the physical similarities.
✓ The electron configurations of these elements were primarily
established through experiments.
✓ The technique used is based on the fact that each line in an emission
spectrum reveals the energy change involved in the transition of an
electron from one energy level to another. However, the problem with
this technique with respect to the Lanthanide elements is the fact that
the 4f and 5d sub-shells have very similar energy levels, which can make
it hard to tell the difference between the two. Another important
feature of the Lanthanides is the Lanthanide Contraction.
Electronic Configuration of Lanthanides
 Electronic Configuration of Lanthanides
This configuration shows that:
✓ Lanthanides have a total of six shells.
✓ Out of these 1st, 2nd and 3rd are completely filled.
✓ While 4th, 5th and 6th are partially filled.
✓ The electronic configuration shows that in orbitals involved in valence
shell, 6s is completely filled whereas 4f and 5d are partially filled.
✓ The electronic configuration shows that extra electron enter in 4f orbital.
✓ The valence shell electronic configuration of lanthanides can be written
as: 6s2 4f0 to 7, 9 to 14, 5d0 to 1
 General Properties of Lanthanides
Oxidation States of Lanthanides
 Oxidation States of Lanthanides
✓ The principal oxidation state of all the Ln elements is +3.
✓ Cesium shows +4 oxidation state, which is stable in solutions as well. +2
oxidation state is stable in Eu and Yb due to 4f7 (half filled) and 4f14 (filled)
electronic configuration.
✓ Sm and Tm also show +2 oxidation state in some cases. The common +3
oxidation state for all Ln appears to be a consequence of greater stabilization
of 4f orbitals in comparison to 5d or 6s with increasing ionic charge.
✓ The order of penetration of orbitals into the inner electron core decreases as
4f>5d>6s. As successive ionization increases the net charge on the
Lanthanide cation, the 4f electrons are affected most, i.e, their energy is
lowered to the greatest extent. In Ln3+ ion, the 4f electrons are thus
stabilised to a greater extent than the 5d or 6s electrons, so these latter
electrons usually ionise in most cases.
 Why Sm2+, Eu2+, and Yb2+ ions in solutions are good reducing
agents but an aqueous solution of Ce4+ is a good oxidizing
agent?

The most stable oxidation state of lanthanides is +3. Hence

the ions in +2 oxidation state tend to change +3 state by loss
of electron acting as reducing agents whereas those in +4
oxidation state tend to change to +3 oxidation state by gain of
electron acting as a good oxidizing agent in aqueous solution.
 Magnetic Properties of Lanthanides
Paramagnetism is due to presence of unpaired electrons, hence ions
having paired electrons are diamagnetic.
✓ The magnetic properties of the Lanthanides are very dependent on
the number of unpaired 4f electrons.
✓ Among the lanthanides , La3+ [4f 0] , Lu3+ [4f 14], Ce4+ (4f0), Lu3+
(4f1 ), and Yb2+ (4f14 ) have no unpaired electrons, they are
diamagnetic, but all the other lanthanide are paramagnetic..
✓ All other trivalent lanthanide ions are paramagnetic due to presence
of unpaired electrons.
 Magnetic Properties of Lanthanides
✓ The cause of paramagnetism is both orbital motion and spin
motion.
✓ The most prominent rare-earth intermetallic compound is
Nd2Fe14B, which is the hardest magnetic material known. Hence,
this intermetallic compound is used as a permanent magnet in
many applications.
✓ Its main uses are in electric motors, spindles for computer hard
disk drives, speakers for cell phones and portable media players,
direct-drive wind turbines and MRI units.
SmCo5 and Sm2Co17 are also permanent magnets.
 Complex formation of Lanthanides
✓ Lanthanides do not have much tendency to form complexes due
to their larger size and charge to radius ratio.
✓ Secondly valence electron in4f orbitals which is benath 5s and 5p
orbitals. As result metal-Ligand interaction are weak.
✓ Some complexes are reported with chelating agent such as EDTA,
Citric acid, Oxalic acid, and acetylacetone (oxygen containing
ligand)
✓ Nitrogen containing ligand such as ethylenediamine, NCS
✓ Lanthanide complexes form 7,8 and 9 coordination number
complexes because of larger size as compared to d block element.
 Complex formation of Lanthanides

The trivalent ions form more stable complexes with oxygen-donor

ligands than with nitrogen-donor ligands.
✓ The larger ions are 9-coordinate in aqueous solution, [Ln(H2O)9]3+
but the smaller ions are 8-coordinate, [Ln(H2O)8]3+.
✓ Complexation with monodentate ligands is generally weak.
Because of the smaller size but higher nuclear charge, tendency to
form coordinate complexes increases from La3+ to Lu3+.
 Color property of Lanthanides
✓ Many of the tripositive ions of lanthanides are colored.
✓ The colour of lanthanide ions is due to the presence of partly filled f orbitals.
As a result it is possible to absorb certain wavelength from the visible region of
the spectrum. This results in transitions from one 4f orbital to another 4f
orbital, known as f-f transition.
 Color property of Lanthanides
✓ M+3 cations having empty, half filled or completely filled 4f orbitals are colourless.
Hence La+3 (4f0), Gd+3 (4f7) and Lu+3 (4f14) are colourless.
✓ The fact that Ce+3 (4f1) and Yb+3 (4f13) are colourless cannot be explained on the
basis of above concept.
✓ Colour of the M+3 ions depend on the number of unpaired electrons
✓ That is the ions having the same number of unpaired electrons in the 4f orbital have
the same colour.
No of unpaired electron Ion Colour

0 La+3, Lu+3 Colorless

1 Ce+3, Yb+3 Colorless
2 Pr, +3 Tm+3 Green
3 Nd+3, Er+3 Pink
4 Pm+3, Ho+3 Pinkish Yellow
5 Sm+3, Dm+3 Yellow
6 Eu+3, Tb+3 Pale Pink
7 Gd+3 Colorless
 Electrode Potential of Lanthanides
✓ The values of standard electrode potential (E° values) for the reduction
reaction increase from La and Lu, i.e. E° the values become less negative as we
move from La to Lu.

✓ These values of E° values explain the following properties of lanthanides:

✓ Reducing property
✓ Electropositive character
✓ Liberation of H2 from H2O
 Electrode Potential of Lanthanides
REDUCING PROPERTY
✓Since lanthanides have high E° values, they are strong reducing agents.
✓They have strong tendency to lose their electrons and undergo oxidation
✓Reducing power decreases from La to Lu.

ELECTROPOSITIVE CHARACTER
✓ Lanthanides have strong electropositive/ metallic character.
✓ This electropositive/ metallic character decreases from La to Lu

LIBERATION OF H2 FROM H2O

✓ Due to high electropositive character, lanthanides react slowly with cold
water and rapidly with hot water to liberate hydrogen.
✓
 Ionic Radii of the Lanthanide
The values of tripositive lanthanide cations (M+3) show a decrease from La+3 to Lu+3
in the series.
This speedy decrease in values of radii of M+3 cations in the lanthanide
series is called Lanthanide contraction.

M+3 cation Radius (A°) M+3 cation Radius (A°) M+3 cation Radius (A°)
La 1.06 Sm 0.96 Ho 0.89
Ce 1.03 Eu 0.95 Er 0.88
Pr 1.01 Gd 0.94 Tm 0.87
Nd 0.99 Tb 0.92 Yb 0.86
Pm 0.98 Dy 0.91 Lu 0.85

Because of the lanthanides contraction, the radii of the elements of the 3rd
transition series are very similar to those of the corresponding elements of the 2nd
transition series elements.
 CAUSE OF LANTHANIDE CONTRACTION
✓ As we move from one element to the next
one, the nuclear charge increases by +1 and
addition of one Electron occurs in 4f orbital.
✓ The shielding of one electron in 4f orbital by
another electron residing in the same orbital is
very poor.
✓ These f orbitals are unable to counter balance
the effect of increasing nuclear charge
because of which the size keeps on decreasing
with increase in atomic number.
✓ Due to negligible amount of mutual shielding
effect between the electrons residing in 4f
orbital, the increase in nuclear charge by +1 at
each next element in lanthanide series brings
the valence shell nearer to the nucleus and
hence the size of M+3 cation goes on
decreasing as we move from one element to
other one in the series.
LANTHANIDE CONTRACTION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

Lanthanide contraction plays an important role in determining the chemistry of

lanthanides and heavier transition elements.

Some important consequences of Lanthanide Contraction

✓ Basic character of Lanthanide hydroxides

✓ Atomic radii of Post-lanthanide elements
✓ High density of Post-lanthanide elements
✓ Occurrence of “Y” with heavier lanthanides
BASIC CHARACTER OF LANTHANIDE HYDROXIDES

✓ There is a decrease in the Basic strength of the lanthanide hydroxides

with the increase in atomic number.
✓ Thus La(OH)3 is the most basic and Lu(OH)3 is the least basic. This is
due to the fact that Because of the lanthanide contraction, size of M3+
ions decreases and there is increase in covalent character and decrease in
ionic character in M–OH and hence basic character decreases.
ATOMIC RADII OF POST LANTHANIDE ELEMENTS
 ATOMIC RADII OF POST LANTHANIDE ELEMENTS

➢The atomic radii of 3rd transition series should be greater than those of 2nd
transition series according to the normal trend of atomic radius in a group.
➢But it is obvious from the table that: Atomic radius of La is greater than Y,
but the atomic radii of Hf, Ta, W, Re etc. (Elements of 3rd transition series) are
not greater than those of Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc etc. (elements of 2nd transition
series) respectively.
➢The expected increase in the atomic radius is cancelled by the presence of 14
elements from Ce to Lu, which are between La and Hf.
➢Consequently atomic radii of elements of 3rd transition series become almost
equal to the elements of 2nd transition series.
➢Due to similarity in size, the elements of 2nd and 3rd transition series
resemble each other more closely than elements of 1st and 2nd transition
series.
 HIGH DENSITY OF POST LANTHANIDE ELEMENTS

The lanthanides are highly dense elements, with densities ranging from roughly 6.1
to 9.8 grams per cubic centimeter.
Because of the Lanthanide contraction the atomic size of the Post-lanthanide
elements become very small. Consequently the packing of atoms in their metallic
crystals becomes very much compact. As a result their densities are very high and
are almost double than those of the elements of 2nd transition series.
Element Density Element Density Element Density
La 6.162 Sm 7.52 Ho 8.79
Ce 6.770 Eu 5.244 Er 9.066
Pr 6.77 Gd 7.90 Tm 9.32
Nd 7.01 Tb 8.23 Yb 9.90
Pm 7.26 Dy 8.540 Lu 9.841
 OCCURRENCE OF YTTRIUM WITH HEAVIER
LANTHANIDES

✓ The crystal radii of Y+3 and Er+3 are equal (i.e. both have ionic radius 0.88°A)
✓ This similarity in ionic size of these two cations coupled with the equality in ionic
charge (i.e. both have +3 charge) accounts for the invariable occurrence of “Y” with
heavier lanthanides.
✓ The marked similarities in the crystal structure, chemical properties and solubility
between “Y” compounds and corresponding compounds of heavier lanthanides
make it difficult to separate “Y” from heavier lanthanides.
✓ Because of these similarities “Y” is regarded for all practical purposes as a member
of lanthanide series.
 Actinoids

✓ The actinide series consists of the 14 metallic chemical elements with

atomic numbers from 90 to 103, actinium to lawrencium.
✓ They are also known as 5f- block elements.
✓ The actinides do not show chemical uniformity as in the case of lanthanides.
✓ All the actinides are radioactive but the most abundant isotopes of Thorium
and Uranium have very long half lives. Except Actinium, Thorium,
Protoactinium and Uranium, all the elements are synthetic elements or man
made elements or transuranic elements.
 Position of Actinoids in Periodic Table

✓ The naturally occurring heaviest known element Th, Pa and U were placed below Hf,
Ta and W in IVB, VB and VIB group of the periodic table because these element
shows +4, +5 and +6 oxidation state and resembled Hf, Ta and W respectively in
many of their properties.
✓ The undiscovered trans- uranium with atomic no 93 -100 were expected to occupy the
position below Re, Os, Ir, Pt,Au Hg Tl and Pb respectively.
✓ Np and Pu, shows the similar properties to U not all those of Re, Os. So U, Np, Pu,
95, 96 were place below W in a VIB group. This assumption proved to be wrong after
the discovery of 95 and 96 elements.
✓ Later on it is suggested that all the elements having atomic number greater than 89
cons?tute of a second series of inner transition elements.
 Occurrence of Actinoids

✓ Ac, Th, Pa and U are naturally occuring and found in Uranium minerals.
✓ They occur as sea water or minerals. Remaining all are made artificially by nuclear
transformation.
✓ The actinide elements lying after U (z= 92), that is actinide elements with atomic
numbers 93 to 103 are called trans-uranium or trans- uranic elements.
✓ All the actinides are radioactive and release energy upon radioactive decay.
Naturally occurring uranium and thorium, and synthetically produced plutonium
are the most abundant actinides on Earth.
 Electronic Configuration of Actinoids

✓ The electronic configuration of actinides show that these elements have a total
of seven shells.
✓ Out of which, first four, that is 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th are completely filled.
✓ Whereas remaining three shells, that is 5th, 6th and 7th are partially filled.
✓ Out of partially filled shells, 5f and 6d are incompletely filled, whereas 7s is
completely filled.
✓ The coming electron enters in 5f orbital.
✓ The general valence shell electronic configuration for the elements of
Actinides can be written as:
5f0,1-----7, 9----14, 6d0,1,2, 7s2
Electronic Configuration of Actinoids
Oxidation States of Actinoids
 Oxidation States of Actinoids

✓ The table shows that +3 is the most common oxidation state.

✓ +3 oxidation state becomes more stable as the atomic number increases.
✓ +2 oxidation state is shown by only three elements, i.e. Ac, Th and Am.
✓ +4 oxidation state is shown by many elements including Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu,
Am and Cm.
✓ Whereas +5 state is shown by Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu and Am.
✓ +6 oxidation state is exhibited by U, Np, Pu and Am.
✓ While +7 is shown only by Np and Pu.
✓ Oxidation states indicate that the principal cations formed by Actinide
elements are M+3 and M+4.
✓ +5 and +6 oxidation states are exhibited in the Oxocations formed by
Actinides such as MO2+ (ox. State = 5) and MO22+ (ox. State = 6).
 Magnetic Property of Actinoids

✓ In the 5f-series, all actinides having unpaired electrons are

paramagnetic.
✓ Pu+3 and Am+3 ions show analogous behavior as noted for
Sm+3 and Eu+3 ions in 4f-series.
✓ The magnetic properties of the actinides ions are
considerably more difficult to explain than those of the
lanthanide ions.
✓ The values of magnetic moments found experimentally are
usually lower than those of calculated values.
 Colors of Actinoids

✓ These metals are silvery white. However, actinoid cations are generally coloured.
✓ The colour of the cation depends upon the number of 5f-electrons.
✓ Tripositive and tetrapositive actinide cations having 5f0, 5f1, 5f7 configurations
are colourless. The cations containing 2 to 6 electrons in the 5f –subshell are
coloured both in the crystalline state as well as in an aqueous solution.
 Colors of Actinoids
✓ Whereas Tripositive and tetrapositive actinide cations having 5f2, 5f3, 5f4,
5f5 and 5f6 configurations are coloured.

✓ The colour arises due to f-f transition, e.g., Ac3+ (5f0) = colourless, U3+
(5f3)= Red, Pu3+ (5f5) = Violet and so on
✓ F0,f7,f14 are colourless.
 Complex Formation of Actinoids
✓ Actinides have more tendency to form complexes than Lanthanides.
✓ Most of the actinide halides form complexes with alkali metal halides.
FOR EXAMPLE: ThCl4 + KCl K[ThCl5] or K[ThCl5]
✓ ThCl4 also form complexes with “N” containing ligands, such as Pyridine.
✓ Actinides also form chelates with organic compounds like EDTA and Oxime.
✓ The degree of complex formation of Actinide cations decreases in the
following order:
✓ An+4 > AnO2 +2 > An+3 > AnO2 +
✓ An = Actinides
✓ AnO2 +2 = Oxidation state of metal = +6
✓ AnO2 + = Oxidation state of metal = +5
✓ The complexing power of different singly charged and doubly charged anions with
the above cations follows the order:
✓ Singly charged anions: F- > NO3- > Cl-
✓ Doubly charged anions: CO3-2 > Ox-2 > SO4-2
 Ionic Radii of Actinides

Actinides have very large atomic and ionic radii.

The values of the radii of both M+3 and M+4 ions exhibit a decrease as we move
from Ac to Cm.
Ionic Radii of Actinides
 Ionic Radii of Actinides

This speedy decrease in size is known as Actinide contraction.

This is due to the fact that with the increase of atomic number, the
nuclear charge increases and attracts more effectively the outer electron
shell.
The reason for Actinide contraction could be explained as follows:
The shielding of one f-electron by another from the effect of nuclear
charge is quite weak on account of the shape and location of the f-
orbital, hence with increasing atomic number, the effective nuclear
charge experienced by each 5f-electron increases. This causes shrinkage
in the radius of atoms or ions as one proceed from Ac to Lw.
 Similarities between Lanthanides and Actinides
✓ In the atoms of elements of both series, the incoming electron enters (n-2)f orbitals.
✓ The elements of both the series show +3 oxidation state as their most common
oxidation state.
✓ Like Lanthanide contraction, actinide elements also have Actinide contraction. Both
the contractions are due to the same reason, that is due to poor shielding effect
between the electrons residing in the (n-2)f orbital.
✓ The absorption bands of the elements of both the series are so sharp that they
appear to be almost line bands.
✓ In case of both lanthanides and actinides, the bands are produced due to transition
of an electron from one energy level to another within (n-2)f orbital.
✓ Elements of both series are highly electropositive and are very reactive.
✓ The nitrates, perchlorates and sulphates of trivalent lanthanides as well as actinides
are soluble whereas hydroxides, fluorides and carbonates of cations of both are
insoluble.
✓ Most of the lanthanide and actinide cations are paramagnetic.
✓ Most of the lanthanide and actinide cations and their solutions / complexes are
coloured.
Difference between Lanthanides and Actinides
 Applications of Actinides

✓ ThO2 is used as gas mantles because of their heat resistance and in volatility
nature.
✓ As a catalyst in many organic reaction, welding operation and in medicine.
✓ It is used in ceramic industries to gives colour.
✓ Mixture of Ce and ThO2 in search light ,head light of motorcars.
✓ UO3 is used in manufacture of costly glass.
✓ Gd3+ used to differentiate the normal and abnormal mass in the body in MRI.
✓ Fission reactors uses enriched U238.
 Applications of Lanthanides Actinides

✓ Lanthanide are used in metallothermic reaction due to its extraordinary reducing

property. (Ce has a strong reducing agent than Al).
✓ Lanthanido- thermic process can yield pure Nb, Zr, Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Y, W, U, B
and Si. These metals are also used as de oxidizing agent in the manufacture of
Cu and its alloys.
✓ Alloys of lanthanide are known as mish metal. The major constituents of mish
metal are Ce 50%, La 25%, Nd 5% and small quantities of other lanthanide
metals and Fe and Ca impurities.
✓ Mish metal are used in production of different brands of steel like heat resist,
stainless and instrumental steels. The addition of 0.75% of mish metal to steel
raises its yield point and its workability in heated state and improve its resistance
to oxidation. It is an excellent scavenger for absorbed oxygen and sulphur in
metallurgy.
 Applications of Lanthanides Actinides

✓ Mg alloy containing 30% mish metal and 1% Zr are used for making the part of jet
engine. This alloy with 30% iron is used as pyrophoric in lighter flint.
✓ CO2, La2O3, Nd2O3 and Pr2O3 are widely use for decolorizing glass.
✓ CeO2 is used in the manufacture of protective transparent glass blocks to be used
in the nuclear technology because these blocks are not affected by prolong
exposure to radiations. Lanthanide oxide can absorb the ultra violet rays.
✓ Nd2O3 adding in sun glass.
✓ Nd2O3+ Pr2O3 used in goggles which are use in blowing and welding work.
✓ Gd2O3+Sm2O3 added in glass to protecting eyes from neutron radiation
✓ Lanthanide compound are used in manufacture of lakes ,dyes, and paint for
porcelain. Cerium molybdate gives light yellow colour, cerium tungstate gives blue
colour, salt of Nd gives red colour.
 Applications of Lanthanides Actinides
✓ Cerium salt is used in textile industries and as a tenning agent in leather
industries. Chloride and acetate of lanthanide make the fabric water proof acid
resistance.
✓ Dimals which are salicylates of Pr and Nd are used as germicides.
✓ Cerium salt are used for the treatment of vomi?ng and sea sickness.
✓ Salt of Er and Ce increase the red blood and hemoglobin content of
✓ blood.

✓ La compound are used in insecto, fungicides as a trace element in fertilizers.

✓ Salt of La,Ce,Eu,Sm are used as activators of luminophores.
✓ They are used in the manufacture of gas mantle, in the coating of luminescent
lamps and for pain?ng the screen of cathode rays tubes.Ce(SO4)2 used as
oxidizing agent in lab.