F Block Elements, Properties, Classification of F Block, Important Topics For JEE 2024

F Block Elements : The f block elements are arranged in two chemical series in the periodic table: the 4f block is named after lanthanides or rare earth elements, and the 5f block is named after actinides or actinides. Lanthanides, or 4f block elements, comprise the first inner transition metals series in chemistry, while actinides comprise the second inner transition metals series.

F Block Elements Meaning

Properties of F Block Elements

• The oxidation states of them are varied.
• They frequently form complex compounds.
• Electrons occupy the third final shell of the inner transition elements.
• These elements produce colourful ions.
• The actinide series of elements include radioactive elements.
• The inner transition elements display variable valencies.
• Elements that have an atomic number greater than 92 or 103 are naturally radioactive and synthetic.

Classification of F Block Elements

Difference Between Lanthanides and Actinides

Similarities Between Lanthanides and Actinides

• Actinoids and lanthanoids have several differences as well as some similarities. This is a brief overview of the similarities.
• There are fifteen elements in each of the two groups of isostructural, organic, and synthetic chemical elements known as lanthanides and actinides.
• Their atoms' last electron enters into the f-orbital.
• Both actinides and lanthanides have two s-electron configurations in their outermost electron shells, which is a comparable outermost electronic configuration.
• Actinium and lanthanum operate as stand-ins for them in the extra rows of the periodic table that list them below.
• Actinides and lanthanides are most often found in the oxidation state +3.
• The electropositive and reactive energies of these elements are high.
• When melted, these metals have a silvery-white color and exhibit magnetic properties.
• An actinide and lanthanide contraction research found that as nuclear charge increases, atomic number rises and atomic size falls.
• Soluble nitrates, sulphates, and perchlorates are present in actinides and lanthanides, while insoluble fluorides, carbonates, and hydroxides are present.

Properties of Lanthanides

• The lanthanide series elements are distinguished by the preferred filling of the 4f orbital.
• This series consists of 14 elements with differentiating electrons occupying a 4f subshell, ranging from Cerium (Z=58) to Lutetium (Z=71).
• The prototype of lanthanide, lanthanum, is the basis of the word lanthanide.
• The lanthanides, or lanthanoid series, are the fourteen elements ranging from cerium to lutetium.
• The inner shells of these elements, (n=2) f, or 4f, and (n-1) d, or 5d, are incomplete. These elements are inside the transition series.
• The 4f components have an electrical arrangement of 4f1−14,5do−4,6s2.

Properties of Actinides

• The electronic configuration of actinium (Z=89) is [Rn]5fo6d17s2. The 5f orbital has no presence of electrons. Actinides are the elements in the series that have increasingly filled 5f orbitals, ranging from Thorium (2=90) to Lawrencium (Z=103).
• Since the elements share many of actinium's physical and chemical characteristics, they are referred to as actinide elements.
• The second inner transition series is made up of actinide. The outermost and penultimate shells' electron l arrangements are the same in each of these components.
• This arrangement of electrons makes elements very similar to one another.
• The metals uranium and thorium come from natural sources.
• However, Neptunium and progressively heavier elements are created artificially by nuclear processes transforming naturally existing elements.
• Trans-uranic elements are all of these artificial elements with atomic numbers greater than Uranium-92. We have identified elements ranging from Rf (Z=104) to Uub (Z=112).

Uses of F Block Elements

• Lasers can be produced using lanthanides.
• In order to determine the age of rocks and fossils, inner transition elements, or f-block elements, are used. For this, elements like lutetium and samarium are used.
• Nuclear weapon development also makes use of inner transition elements. For this, elements like plutonium and uranium are used.
• Nuclear power is also produced using inner transition elements.
• Lanthanides are also used in the production of powerful magnets.
• Inner Transition Elements have been used in the field of medicine as well, where they are employed to complete certain targeted cells inside the body. For example, uranium offers radiation protection.