What are lanthanides and actinides. Give a brief account of their electronic configuration.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Lanthanides are a group of chemical elements from atomic numbers 57 to 71, with a typical electronic configuration of \([Kr] 4d^{10} 5s^{2} 5p^{6} 4f^{n}\). Actinides are a group of chemical elements from atomic numbers 89 to 103, with an electronic configuration of \([Rn] 5f^{n} 6d^{0-2} 7s^{2}\).

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Lanthanides

Lanthanides are a group of chemical elements ranging from atomic numbers 57 (Lanthanum) to 71 (Lutetium). They are located at the bottom of the periodic table and are part of the f-block elements. They have similar properties to each other because each atom has an extra electron in an f-orbital.
02

Electronic configuration of Lanthanides

Their general electronic configuration is \([Kr] 4d^{10} 5s^{2} 5p^{6} 4f^{n}\), where \(n\) ranges from 1 to 14. This means that the 4f sub-shell is progressively filled from cerium (Z=58) to lutetium (Z=71).
03

Understanding Actinides

Actinides are a group of chemical elements ranging from atomic numbers 89 (Actinium) to 103 (Lawrencium). They are also located at the bottom of the periodic table and are part of the f-block elements. They have distinct properties, however, with each following element having an additional electron and potentially additional protons and neutrons.
04

Electronic configuration of Actinides

Their general electronic configuration is \([Rn] 5f^{n} 6d^{0-2} 7s^{2}\), where \(n\) ranges from 1 to 14. This means that the 5f and 6d sub-shells are progressively filled from thorium (Z=90) to lawrencium (Z=103).

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free