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d and f-block elements
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Lecture 5
The Inner Transition Elements (f-block)
The Inner Transition Elements (f-block)
It contains of the two series, lanthanoids (the fourteen elements following lanthanum) and actinoids (the fourteen elements following actinium)
Electronic Configurations
The electronic configurations of all the tripositive ions (the most stable oxidation state of all the lanthanoids) are of the form $4f^n$
The Inner Transition Elements (f-block)
General features
All the lanthanoids are silvery white soft metals and tarnish rapidly in air. The hardness increases with increasing atomic number, samarium being steel hard. Their melting points range between 1000 to 1200 K but samarium melts at 1623 K.
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The Inner Transition Elements (f-block)
Electronic Configuration and radii of Lanthanum and Lanthanoids
The Inner Transition Elements (f-block)
d-block
Atomic and Ionic Sizes
The lanthanide contraction. i.e. the reduction in size of the $Ln^{3+}$ ion from $La^{3+}$ (103 pm) to $Lu^{3+}$ (86.1 pm)
It is often explained by the poor shielding of the 5s and 5p electrons by the 4f electrons
Atomic and Ionic Sizes
Electronic configurations and Radii of Lanthanum and Lanthanoids
Oxidation states
The chemistry of the lanthanides is dominated by the +3 oxidation state
In Ln compounds the 6s electrons and (usually) one 4f electron are lost and the ions have the configuration [Xe]4f
All the lanthanide elements exhibit the oxidation state +3
In addition, Ce can lose its single f-electron to form Ce with the stable electronic configuration of xenon
Oxidation states
Important point of oxidation states
$Eu^{3+}$ can gain an electron to form $Eu^{2+}$ with the $f^7$ configuration
It has the extra stability of a half-filled shell, Other than $Ce^{IV}$ and $Eu^{2+}$
None of the lanthanoides are stable in oxidation states other than +3 in aqueous solution
Important point
The value$E^o$ for $Ce^{4+}Ce^{3+}$ is + 1.74 V
It can oxidize water
Formation of $Ce^{IV}$ is favored by its noble gas configuration
$ Ln^{3+}(aq) + 3e\rightarrow Ln(s)$
Spectra emission
Lanthanoides
Client reactions of the lanthanoid
Actinoids
Actinoids
The Actinoids
Earlier members have relatively long half-lives
Table 8.10: Soms Properties of Arttalum and Actinalde
Electronic configurations
$7s^2$ and variable occupancy of the 5f and 6d subshells
The 5f orbitals look like the 4f orbitals in their angular part of the wave-function, they are not as hidden as 4f orbitals and hence 5f electrons can take part in bonding to a far greater extent
Structure
Oxidation state
There is a greater range of oxidation states,
which is in part attributed to the fact that the 5f, 6d and 7s levels.
comparable energies.
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