The Lanthanides and Their Complexes

The Lanthanides and Their Complexes
Rare Earth Elements: series of chemical

elements of the periodic table. The rare earth
elements (or rare earth metals) include the
elements with atomic numbers 57 through 71,
and, named in order, are lanthanum (La), cerium
(Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd),
promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium
(Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium
(Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm),
ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu).
• The elements cerium (Ce, atomic no. 58) through lutetium (Lu, atomic no. 71)
are commonly known as the lanthanide series.
• The lanthanides have many scientific and industrial uses. Their compounds are
used as
• catalysts in the production of petroleum and synthetic products.

• in lamps, lasers, magnets, phosphors, motion picture projectors, and X-ray
intensifying screens.
• A pyrophoric mixed rare-earth alloy called Mischmetall (50% Ce, 25% La, 25%
other light lanthanides) or misch metal is combined with iron to make flints for
cigarette lighters.
Periodic trends: Electron configurations
Anomalous electron configurations for Ce, Gd and Lu
Lanthanum
[Xe]5d16s2
(Ln)
Cerium (Ce) [Xe]4f15d16s2 Terbium [Xe]4f96s2
Praseodymium Dysprosium
[Xe]4f36s2 [Xe]4f106s2
(Pr) (Dy)
Neodymium Holmium
(Nd)
[Xe]4f46s2 (Ho)
[Xe]4f116s2
Promethium Erbium
(Pm)
[Xe]4f56s2 (Er)
[Xe]4f126s2
Terbium
Samarium (Sm) [Xe]4f66s2 [Xe]4f136s2
(Tm)
Ytterbium
Europium (Eu) [Xe]4f76s2 (Yb)
[Xe]4f146s2
Gadolinium Lutetium
(Gd)
[Xe]4f75d16s2 (Lu) [Xe]4f145d16s2
perties of the Lanthanides
share the following common properties:
e metals that tarnish when exposed to air, forming their oxides.
ft metals. Hardness increases somewhat with higher atomic number.
m left to right across the period (increasing atomic number), the radius of each lanthanide 3+ ion steadily decreases. This is referred to as 'lanthanide
g points and boiling points.
e.
water to liberate hydrogen (H 2), slowly in cold/quickly upon heating. Lanthanides commonly bind to water.
H+ (dilute acid) to release H2 (rapidly at room temperature).
exothermic reaction with H2.
n air.
ong reducing agents.
ounds are generally ionic.
temperatures, many rare earths ignite and burn vigorously.
arth compounds are strongly paramagnetic.
arth compounds fluoresce strongly under ultraviolet light.
ons tend to be pale colors, resulting from weak, narrow, forbidden f x f optical transitions.
c moments of the lanthanide and iron ions oppose each other.
des react readily with most nonmetals and form binaries on heating with most nonmetals.
ation numbers of lanthanides are high (greater than 6; usually 8 or 9 or as high as 12).
Common Properties of the Lanthanides
Lanthanides share the following common properties:

•Silvery-white metals that tarnish when exposed to air, forming their oxides.
•Relatively soft metals. Hardness increases somewhat with higher atomic number.
•Moving from left to right across the period (increasing atomic number), the radius of each lanthanide 3+
ion steadily decreases. This is referred to as 'lanthanide contraction'.
•High melting points and boiling points.
•Very reactive.
•React with water to liberate hydrogen (H2), slowly in cold/quickly upon heating. Lanthanides commonly
bind to water.
•React with H+ (dilute acid) to release H2 (rapidly at room temperature).
•React in an exothermic reaction with H2.
•Burn easily in air.
•They are strong reducing agents.
•Their compounds are generally ionic.
•At elevated temperatures, many rare earths ignite and burn vigorously.
•Most rare earth compounds are strongly paramagnetic.
•Many rare earth compounds fluoresce strongly under ultraviolet light.
•Lanthanide ions tend to be pale colors, resulting from weak, narrow, forbidden f x f optical transitions.
•The magnetic moments of the lanthanide and iron ions oppose each other.
•The lanthanides react readily with most nonmetals and form binaries on heating with most nonmetals.
•The coordination numbers of lanthanides are high (greater than 6; usually 8 or 9 or as high as 12).
Extraction of Lanthanides from Monazite sand:

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The Lanthanides and Their Complexes

Rare Earth Elements: series of chemical

• catalysts in the production of petroleum and synthetic products.

Lanthanides share the following common properties:

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