1.

Briefly explain why electronic configurations of lanthanoids are not known with certainty.

Answer»

In the lanthanoids, 4f and 5d subshells are very close in energy. The outermost 6s-orbital remains filled with two electrons (6s2). The electrons can easily jump from 4f to 5d or vice-versa. Further, irregularities in electronic configurations are also related to the stabilities of f0 , f7 and f14 occupancy of f-orbitals. Hence, their electronic configurations are not known with certainty.

Electronic configuration of lanthanum and 4f-series of f-block elements:

i. The 4f-series includes elements from cerium (Ce) to lutetium (Lu). The electronic configuration of these elements can be expressed in terms of its nearest inert gas Xe (Z = 54).

ii. Electronic configuration of Xe (Z = 54) = 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2 5p6 Therefore, general electronic configuration of 4f-series is [Xe] 4f1-14 5d0-1 6s2 .

iii. Lanthanum has electronic configuration [Xe]4f0 5d1 6s2 . It does not have any 4f electrons.

ElementSymbolAtomic NumberExpected electronic configurationObserved electronic configuration
LanthanumLa57[Xe] 4f0 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f0 5d1 6s2
CeriumCe58[Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f2 5d0 6s2
PraseodymiumPr59[Xe] 4f2 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f3 5d0 6s2
NeodymiumNd60[Xe] 4f3 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f4 5d0 6s2
PromethiumPm61[Xe] 4f4 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f5 5d0 6s2
SamariumSm62[Xe] 4f5 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f6 5d0 6s2
EuropiumEu63[Xe] 4f6 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f7 5d0 6s2
GadoliniumGd64[Xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2
TerbiumTb65[Xe] 4f8 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f9 5d0 6s2
DysprosiumDy66[Xe] 4f9 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f10 5d0 6s2
HolmiumHo67[Xe] 4f10 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f11 5d0 6s2
ErbiumEr68[Xe] 4f11 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f12 5d0 6s2
ThuliumTm69[Xe] 4f12 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f13 5d0 6s2
YtterbiumYb70[Xe] 4f13 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f14 5d0 6s2
LutetiumLu71[Xe] 4f14 5d1 6s2[Xe] 4f14 5d1 6s2



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