0Explain the configuration and oxidation states of ‘lanthanides’.
- Lanthanoids is the name given to the elements with atomic number 57/58 to 71. They all belong to Group 3 and Period 6 in the long form of periodic table.
- All the elements of this series exhibit an oxidation state of +3 (Ln3+ ).
- Some of these elements also exhibit +2 and +4 states, but these states are not as stable as the +3 state. Only +3 state is exhibited by La, Gd and Lu which is due to extract-ability of empty, completely half filled or completely filled 4f orbitals.
- Along with +3, other two oxidation states, +2 and +4 are exhibited by some members of this series.
Generally their configuration is [Xe] 4f1-14 6s2
