f-Block Elements

▪ Elements whose f orbital gets filled up by electrons are called f block elements.
▪ These elements have electrons (1 to 14) in the f orbital, (0 to 1) in the d orbital
of the penultimate energy level and in the outermost orbital.
▪ Since the f orbital lies much inside than the d orbital, in relation to the
transition metals, f block elements are called inner transition elements.
▪ These are called inner transition metals because they provide a transition in
the 6th and 7th row of the periodic table, which separates the s block and the d
block elements.
 f-Block Elements

F block elements are placed separately at the bottom of the periodic table. They are a subset of
the 6th and 7th periods.
Electronic Configuration of Lanthanides
Electronic Configuration of Actinides
f-Block Elements
 Classification of f Block Elements
▪ f block elements are classified into lanthanides and actinides.
▪ The first series of elements are called lanthanides and include elements with
atomic numbers beginning from 57 and ending at 71. These elements are non-
radioactive (except for promethium, which is radioactive).
▪ The second series of elements are called actinides and include elements with
atomic numbers beginning from 89 and ending at 103. These elements generally
have a radioactive nature
▪ The row beginning with lanthanum is the row containing all the lanthanides,
whereas the row beginning with actinium is the row that contains all the actinides.
 Properties of f Block Elements
▪ They have electrons added to the ‘f’ sub-orbitals of (n-2) level
▪ They are placed between (n-1)d and ns block elements in the periodic table.
▪ Properties are similar to d-block elements.
 Properties of Lanthanides
▪ Lanthanides are soft metals with a silvery-white colour.
▪ Their colour dulls, and their brightness reduces rapidly when exposed to air.
▪ They have melting points ranging from 1000K to 1200K (Except Samarium, 1623K).
▪ Lanthanides are good conductors of heat and electricity.
▪ They are non-radioactive in nature except the promethium
▪ A decrease in atomic and ionic radii from lanthanum to lutetium is observed. This is
called the lanthanoid contraction.
 Properties of Actinides
▪ The Actinide elements appear to be silvery.
▪ These elements have a radioactive nature.
▪ These metals are highly reactive, and their reactivity increases when they are finely divided.
▪ A decrease in atomic and ionic radii from Actinium to Lawrencium is observed. This is called the actinoid
contraction.
▪ They generally exhibit an oxidation state of +3. However, elements belonging to the first half of the series
are known to exhibit higher oxidation states quite frequently.
▪ Majority synthetically made by particle accelerators creating nuclear reactions and short lasting.
▪ All have the ability to form stable complexes with ligands, such as chloride, sulfate, carbonate and
acetate.
▪ Many of the actinides occur in nature as sea water or minerals.
▪ The interaction of Actinides when radioactive with different types of phosphors will produce pulses of light.
 Properties of Actinides
▪ The emission of radioactivity, toxicity, pyrophoricity, and nuclear criticality are properties that make them
hazardous to handle
• Emission of Radioactivity: The types of radiation the elements possess are alpha, beta, gamma,
as well as when neutrons are produced by spontaneous fissions or boron, beryllium, and fluorine
react with alpha-particles.

• Toxicity: Because of their radioactive and heavy metal characteristics, they are considered toxic
elements.

• Pyrophoricity: Many actinide metals, hydrides, carbides, alloys and other compounds may ignite
at room temperature in a finely divided state, which would result from spontaneous combustion
fires and spreading of radioactive contaminates.

• Nuclear Criticality: If fissionable materials are combined, a chain reaction could occur resulting
in lethal doses of radioactivity, but it depends on chemical form, isotopic composition, geometry,
size of surroundings, etc.
 Lanthanide Contraction
▪ The Lanthanide Contraction describes the atomic radius trend that the Lanthanide
series exhibit.
▪ The Lanthanide Contraction applies to all 14 elements included in the Lanthanide
series.
▪ The Lanthanide Contraction is the result of a poor shielding effect of the 4f
electrons.
 Lanthanide Contraction
▪ The atomic radius of these elements decreases as the atomic number increases.
 Lanthanide Contraction
▪ The Lanthanide Contraction can be seen by comparing the elements with f electrons and those
without f electrons in the d block orbital
 Lanthanide Contraction
▪ The Lanthanide Contraction can be seen by comparing the elements with f electrons and those
without f electrons in the d block orbital
 Acitinides
▪ The Actinide series contains elements with atomic numbers 89 to 103 and is in the sixth period and
the third group of the periodic table. The series is the row below the Lanthanide series, which is
located underneath the main body of the periodic table. Lanthanide and Actinide Series are both
referred to as Rare Earth Metals.
Similarities between Lanthanides and Actinides
The elements of lanthanide and actinide series are characterised by filling of (n-2) f
subshell. They possess almost similar outermost electronic configurations and hence
have similar properties. The following are the significant similarities:
▪ Both have a prominent oxidation state of +3.
▪ They are involved in the filling of (n-2) f orbitals.
▪ They are highly electropositive and very reactive in nature.
▪ With an increase in atomic number, there is a decrease in atomic and ionic size.
▪ Both show magnetic properties.
Difference between Lanthanides and Actinides
▪ Lanthanoids are involved in the filling of 4f orbitals, whereas actinoids are involved in the filling of
5f orbitals. The binding energy of 4f electrons is comparatively less than that of 5f electrons. The
shielding effect of 5f electrons is less effective as compared to that of 4f electrons.
▪ The paramagnetic properties of lanthanoids can be easily explained, but this explanation is difficult
in the case of actinoids.
▪ Lanthanides are non-radioactive in nature except promethium, whereas all actinide series elements
are radioactive.
▪ Lanthanides do not have a tendency to form oxo-cations, but several oxo-cations of actinide series
exist. The compounds formed by lanthanides are less basic; on the other hand, the compounds of
actinides are highly basic