The f - block
elements
lanthanide series
Rare-earth series (inner transition
elements).
The f - block elements are also called as inner
transition elements.
La as first 5d transition element
Ac as first 6d transition element
Position of Lanthanides
The lanthanides belongs to III B group of the
periodic table in the sixth period.
These elements interrupt the third transition
series of d- block elements in the sixth period.
Only for the sake of convenience these
elements are shown at the bottom of the
periodic table.
Their actual position is in between La (Z=57)
and Hf (Z=72)together at one place.
The lanthanides series
elements
Lanthanides are the elements in which
the last electron enters into 4f - orbital.
These elements are also called as
Lanthanones or lanthanoids or 4f-
block elements.
the symbol Ln is used to
Usually
represent the lanthanide elements.
lanthanide series
Rare-earth series
At one time, the lanthanides were called the rare
earth elements.
The name suggests that chemists once thought
that the elements were present in Earth's crust in
only very small amounts.
That is NOT True.
The point of interest about the lanthanides, then, is
not that they are so rare, but that they are so
much alike.
Most of the lanthanides occur together in nature,
and they are very difficult to separate from each
other.
Application of lanthanides
elements
One of the earliest uses involved an alloy of cerium and iron,
called Auer metal, which produced a brilliant spark when struck.
This has been widely used as a "flint" in cigarette and gas lighters.
Auer metal is one of a series of mixed lanthanide alloys called
misch metals that have a variety of metallurgical applications.
They have been used to impart strength, hardness, and inertness
to structural materials. They have also been used to remove
oxygen and sulfur impurities from systems.
high coercivity magnets used in motorization (electric cars, wind
turbines, hard diskdrives)
lasers and telecommunications,
biomedical analyses and imaging, and agriculture.
They are classified as strategic materials by the military and
several governments.
Application of lanthanides elements
The lanthanides are now used in a greater variety of applications.
1. One such application is as catalysts in the refining industry, for example, the conversion of
crude oil into gasoline, kerosene, diesel.
2. The lanthanides are also used as phosphors in color television sets.
3. Phosphors are chemicals that glow with various colors when struck by electrons.
4. For example, oxides of europium and yttrium are used to produce the red colors on a
television screen.
5. Other lanthanide compounds are used in streetlights, searchlights, and in the high-
intensity lighting present in sports stadiums.
6. The ceramics industry uses lanthanide oxides to color ceramics and glasses.
7. Optical lenses made with lanthanum oxide are used in cameras and binoculars.
8. Compounds of praseodymium and neodymium are used in glass, such as in television
screens, to reduce glare.
9. Cerium oxide has been used to polish glass.
10. The lanthanides also have a variety of nuclear applications. Because they absorb
neutrons, they have been employed in control rods
11. They have also been used as shielding materials and as structural components in reactors.
12. Some lanthanides have unusual magnetic properties. For instance, cobalt-samarium
magnets are very strong permanent magnets.
Electron Configuration
Lanthanum has the electron configuration
[Xe],4f0,5d1,6s2. It does not possess any 4f electron.
This is definite.
The next electron after lanthanum does not enter
the expected 5d sublevel but enters 4f sublevel.
Successive filling of electrons In 4f orbital takes
place in the 14 elements which follow lanthanum,
i.e. cerium onwards.
Strictlyspeaking lanthanum is not a member of this
series. The 14 elements from cerium (Z=58) to
lutetium (Z=71) constitute lanthanides.
Theseelements are called Lanthanides because
many physical and chemical properties of these
elements are similar to those of lanthanum.
Oxidation States
Lanthanides exhibit different oxidation
states like +2, +3 and +4.
Among these +3 is the most stable
oxidation state.
The elements that attain stable electronic
configuration by losing 2 or 4 electrons
exhibit +2 and +4 oxidation states.
Example: Europium and ytterbium exhibits
+2 and +3 oxidation states –
cerium exhibits +4 oxidation state.
