Lanthanides15 elements · the first of the two rows shown separately below the main table (period 6)
The lanthanides are the 15 elements from lanthanum (57) to lutetium (71), shown in the first of the two separate rows beneath the main table. Together with scandium and yttrium they are called the rare-earth elements. They are silvery metals with very similar chemistry because they differ mainly in their inner 4f electrons. They are vital to modern technology: magnets, phosphors, lasers and catalysts.
# Properties of lanthanides
- Fill the 4f orbitals
- Chemically very similar to each other
- Usually form 3+ ions
- Used in strong magnets, screens, lasers and catalysts
- Not actually rare — but hard to separate
# List of lanthanides
| # | Symbol | Element | Atomic mass | Electron configuration | State at 25 °C | Melting point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | La | Lanthanum | 138.91 | [Xe] 5d¹ 6s² | solid | 1193 K |
| 58 | Ce | Cerium | 140.12 | [Xe] 4f¹ 5d¹ 6s² | solid | 1068 K |
| 59 | Pr | Praseodymium | 140.91 | [Xe] 4f³ 6s² | solid | 1208 K |
| 60 | Nd | Neodymium | 144.24 | [Xe] 4f⁴ 6s² | solid | 1297 K |
| 61 | Pm | Promethium | 145 | [Xe] 4f⁵ 6s² | solid | 1315 K |
| 62 | Sm | Samarium | 150.36 | [Xe] 4f⁶ 6s² | solid | 1345 K |
| 63 | Eu | Europium | 151.96 | [Xe] 4f⁷ 6s² | solid | 1099 K |
| 64 | Gd | Gadolinium | 157.25 | [Xe] 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6s² | solid | 1585 K |
| 65 | Tb | Terbium | 158.93 | [Xe] 4f⁹ 6s² | solid | 1629 K |
| 66 | Dy | Dysprosium | 162.5 | [Xe] 4f¹⁰ 6s² | solid | 1680 K |
| 67 | Ho | Holmium | 164.93 | [Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s² | solid | 1734 K |
| 68 | Er | Erbium | 167.26 | [Xe] 4f¹² 6s² | solid | 1802 K |
| 69 | Tm | Thulium | 168.93 | [Xe] 4f¹³ 6s² | solid | 1818 K |
| 70 | Yb | Ytterbium | 173.05 | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s² | solid | 1097 K |
| 71 | Lu | Lutetium | 174.97 | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹ 6s² | solid | 1925 K |
# Lanthanides FAQ
Which elements are lanthanides?
There are 15 lanthanides in this table: Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium, Promethium, Samarium, Europium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium, Erbium, Thulium, Ytterbium, Lutetium.
Where are the lanthanides on the periodic table?
The lanthanides are found in the first of the two rows shown separately below the main table (period 6).
What are the properties of lanthanides?
Fill the 4f orbitals; Chemically very similar to each other; Usually form 3+ ions; Used in strong magnets, screens, lasers and catalysts; Not actually rare — but hard to separate.