Inner Transition Elements (f-Block Elements)

The inneftransition elements consist of 1lanthanoids and actinoids. They are characterised by filling of the f
orbitals.
6. Lanthanoids
The series involving the filling of 4f-orbitals following lanthanum La (Z = 57) is called the lanthanoid
series. There are 14 elements in this series, starting with cerium Ce (Z-58) to lutetium Lu (Z=71), The
lanthanoids
are highly dense metals.
have high melting points.
form alloys easily with other metals.
are soft, malleable and ductile with low tensile strength.
) Oxidation state: The most characteristic oxidation state of lanthanoid elements is +3. Some of the
elements also exhibit +2 and +4 oxidation states.
CiY Colour: Some of the trivalent ions of lanthanoids are coloured. This is due to the absorption in visible
rogion of the spectrum, resulting in fftransitions because they have partly filled orbitals.
(iif) Magnetic properties: Among lanthanoids, La* and Lu, which have 4f° or 4fl electronic
confígurations are diamagnetic and all the other trivalent lanthanoid ions are paramagnetic because of
the presence of unpaired electrons.
( Reactivity: Alllanthanoids are highly electropositive metals and have an almost similar chemical
reactivity.
 ) Lanthanoid contraction: In lanthanoids, with increasing atomic number, the atomic and ionic
radii decreases from one element tothe other. but the decrease is very small. It is because, for every
additional proton in the nucleus, the corresponding electron goes into a 4f-subshell, which is too
ifused to screen the nucleus as effectively as the more localised inner shell. Hence, the attraction OI
the nucleus for the outermost electrons increases steadily with the
atomic number.
(vi) Uses of lanthanoids: The pure metals have no specific use. So they are used as alloys or
compounds.
As alloys lanthanoids are used in making a misch metal which consists of lanthanoid metals (~950)
and iron (~5%) and traces of sulphur, carbon, calcium and aluminium. Magnesium mixed with 3%
misch metal is used for making jet engine parts.
Steel mixed with La, Ce, Pr and Nd is used in the manufacture of flame throwing tanks.
Lanthanoid oxides are used for polishing glass. Neodymium and praseodymium oxides are used ror
making coloured glasses for goggles.
Cerium salts are used in dyeing cotton and also as catalysts.
Lanthanoid compounds are used as acatalyst for hydrogenation, dehydrogenation and petroleum
cracking.
Pyrophoric alloys are used for making tracer bullets and shells.
6. The
Actinoids: The elements following actinium, Ac (Z= 89), up to lawrencium (Z =103), are called actinoids.
actinoids

are highly dense metals with a high melting point and form alloys with other metals, specially iron.
are silvery white metals, which are highly reactive.
gel,tarnished when exposed to alkalis and are less reactive towards acids.
k) Actinoid contraction: The atomic and ionic size decreases with an increase in atomic number.
Electrons are added to the 5f-shell, as a result the nuclear charge increases causing the shells to shrink
inwards.
4 Electronic configuration: The actinoids involve the filling of 5f-subshells.Actinium has the electronic
configuration 6d 7s. From thorium (Z =90) onwards, 5forbitals get progressively filled up. Because
of equal energy of 5f and 6d subshells, there are some uncertainities regarding the filling of 5f and 6d
subshells. Most of their properties are comparable to that of lanthanoids.
(iüi) Oxidation state: Generally a +3 oxidation state is preferred in actinoids.The elements in the first of
actinoid series frequently exhibit higher states. For example, the maximum oxidation increases from
+4in Thto+5, +6 and +7 in Pa, U and Np, respectively, but decreases in succeeding elements.
(iv) CoBour: The actinoid ions are coloured.
(v) Magneti properties: Many of the actinoid ions are paramagnetic.
(vi) Rezctivity:They are also highly electropositive and form salts as wellas complexes. Many of these
elements are radioactive.
(vi) Uses of actinoids:
Thorium is used in the treatment of cancer and in incandescent gas mantles.
Uranium is used in the glass industry, textile industry, in medicines and as nuclear fuel
Plutonium is used in atomic reactors and in atomic bombs.
I. Differences between Lanthanoids and Actinoids
S.No. Lanthanoids
Actinoids
() 4forbital is progressively filled. 5f-orbital is progressively filled.
(ii) 43 0xidation state is most common along With +2 and +4. | They show +3, +4, +5, +6. 47
oxidation states
(iii) Only promethium (Pm) is radioactive. All are radioactive.

(iv) They are less reactive than actinojds. They are more reactive.
(v) Magnetic properties are less complex.
Magnetic properties are more complex.