D and F Block Elements - Properties, Lanthanides & Actinides with Examples & Uses (2024)

What are the d- and f-block Elements?

The elements present in the middle of the periodic table from Group 3 to 12 are called d-block elements. The name d- blocks because the last electron enters into the d-orbital of the penultimate shell.

Table of Contents

• What are the d- and f-block Elements?
• The brief study on d-block or transition elements
• Some important Topics of d-block Elements
• Recommended Videos
• Brief Study on f-Block or Inner-Transition Elements
• Lanthanides
• Find the important features of lanthanides elements
• Actinides
• Uses of Actinides
• Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

These are often called transition elements because their characters lie between highly reactive metallic elements of s-block and nonmetallic elements of p-block elements. There are four series in the d block corresponding to the filling up of 3d, 4d, 5d or 6d orbitals.

• First transition series or 3d series ( Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn)
• Second transition series or 4d series (Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd)
• Third transition series or 5d series (La, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg)
• Fourth transition series or 6d series- incomplete.

On the other hand,

f block elements are found outside at the bottom of the periodic table. The name f- blocks because the last electron enters into the f-orbital of the anti-penultimate shell.

These are also called inner transition elements. There are 2 series in the f block, corresponding to the filling up of 4f and 5f orbitals.

• Lanthanide series or 4f series (Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm , Yb)
• Actinide series of 5f series ( Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, Fm, Md, Mo)

The brief study on d-block or transition elements

• Typically, the transition elements have an incompletely filled d-orbital. So that Zn, Cd, and Hg are not regarded as transition elements because they have completely filled d-orbitals (nd10 ), compounds of these elements are not typical and show differences from other elements.
• The general electronic configuration of d-block element is (n-1)d^1-10 ns²

Some important Topics of d-block Elements

• Electronic configuration
• Size of atoms and ions
• Variable oxidation state
• Metallic character
• Ionisation energy
• Melting and boiling points
• Colour
• Magnetic properties
• Complex formation
• Alloy formation
• Important compound

Recommended Videos

Brief Study on f-Block or Inner-Transition Elements

• In the f-block elements or inner-transition elements the electron enters into the anti-penultimate energy level i.e (n-2) energy level.
• The general electronic configuration of f-block element is (n-2)f^1-14 (n-1)d^0-1 ns²

On the basis of the entrance of the last electron either into 4 f-orbital or 5 f-orbital, these elements are classified into two categories called lanthanides and actinides respectively.

Lanthanides:

The name lanthanides comes from lanthanum (La, Z=57) because these elements are closely related to lanthanum. This series included 14 elements from cerium (Z=58) to lutetium (Z=71).

Find the important features of lanthanides elements

• Electronic configuration of lanthanides

The general electronic configuration of lanthanide is [Xe] 4f^1-14 5d^0-1 6s²

• Oxidation state
• Lanthanide contraction
• Ionisation energy
• Physical properties
• Formation of coloured ions
• Chemical reactivity
• Uses of lanthanides

Find the important features of lanthanides elements

• Electronic configuration of lanthanides

The general electronic configuration of lanthanide is [Rn] 5f^1-14 6d^0-1 7s²

• Oxidation state
• Actinide contraction
• Ionisation
• Physical properties

Actinides:

The name actinide comes from actinium (La, Z=89) because these elements are closely related to actinium. This series included 14 elements, from thorium (Z=90) to lawrencium (Z=103).

Uses of Actinides

The actinides are radioactive in nature. These elements used as energy sources for example thorium is used in atomic reactors and the treatment of cancer, uranium is used in nuclear fuel, its salts are used in glass industry, textile industry and medicines. Plutonium is used in nuclear fuel and atomic bombs.