Lanthanide Contraction is a phenomenon that describes the steady decrease in the size of the atoms and ions of the rare-earth elements as the atomic number increases. The lanthanide contraction is a significant factor in the close chemical similarity of the rare-earth elements and affects the properties of the post-lanthanide elements. This phenomenon has implications for various properties, such as atomic size, density, and chemical reactivity.

What is Lanthanide?

Lanthanides are the rare earth elements of the modern periodic table, consisting of 15 metallic elements with atomic numbers from 57 to 71, following the element lanthanum. They are also referred to as lanthanoids and are part of the f-block of the periodic table. The lanthanides have similar configurations and exhibit identical physical and chemical behavior, with the most common valences being 3 and 4. These elements are known for their high density and melting points and are available in ‘monazite’ sand as lanthanide orthophosphate. They are also called f-block elements.

Properties of Lanthanides Series

The lanthanide series, also called the lanthanoid series, is a group of 15 elements whose atomic numbers are from 57 to 71. These elements are rare earth metals and have different properties. Some of the important properties of the lanthanides are:

• The lanthanides have many similar physical properties, such as soft and silvery-white metals that burn when exposed to air.
• The most common oxidation state for lanthanides is +3, and they can also exhibit +2 and +4 oxidation states. Due to the slight change in ionic radii, the lanthanides have similar chemical properties, making their separation challenging.
• Lanthanides have various applications, including lasers, magnets, eyeglasses, lighter flints, safety glasses, and medical devices.
• The lanthanides are essential elements with many uses and unique chemical properties, making them a significant group in the periodic table. Ce³⁺ can lose its single f electron to form Ce⁴⁺ with a stable electronic configuration.

What is Lanthanide Contraction?

Lanthanide contraction refers to the greater-than-expected decrease in atomic and ionic radii of the elements in the lanthanide series from left to right. It is caused by the poor shielding effect of the 4f electrons, which results in an increase in the effective nuclear charge attracting each electron, leading to successive reductions in atomic and ionic radii.

Lanthanide Contraction

Consequences of Lanthanide Contraction

The lanthanide contraction is a phenomenon that occurs in the lanthanide series, where the atomic and ionic radii of the elements decrease as the atomic number increases. The effects of the lanthanide contraction are:

• Atomic Size: The atomic size of the elements in the lanthanide series decreases as the atomic number increases, resulting in a smaller atomic radius.
• Difficulty in Separation: The slight change in ionic radii of the lanthanides makes their separation challenging.
• Effect on Basic Strength of Hydroxides: The hydroxides’ covalent character increases as the lanthanides’ size decreases from La to Lu.
• Complex Formation: The lanthanide contraction affects the formation of complexes, as the smaller size of the ions can lead to stronger bonding.
• Ionization Energy: The lanthanide contraction significantly affects the ionization energy of the lanthanide series. The ionization energy increases as the atomic and ionic radii decrease due to the lanthanide contraction.
• Impact on coordination number: The lanthanide contraction decreases coordination number as one moves down the series. For example, lanthanide ions smaller than La form higher coordination numbers, such as 11-coordinate structures, while those with larger lanthanide ions may form lower coordination numbers.
• Ions in crystal lattices: The lanthanide contraction profoundly impacts the crystal structures and properties of compounds containing lanthanide ions, leading to a wide variation in crystal structures and increased symmetry around the lanthanide ions in crystal lattices.

Cause of Lanthanide Contraction

As the atomic number increases across the lanthanide series, the nuclear charge increases, and the 4f electrons poorly shield the outer shell electrons, leading to a greater effective nuclear charge and a decrease in atomic and ionic radii.

• Increasing nuclear charge
• Poor shielding effect of 4f electrons
• Decrease in atomic and ionic radii

The lanthanide contraction affects the properties and chemistry of the lanthanides, making their separation easier, but it also influences the post-lanthanide elements, making their separation more difficult.

Influence of Electron Shielding

The influence of electron shielding effect on Lanthanide Contraction can be:

• The poor shielding effect of the 4f electrons causes Lanthanide Contraction.
• The 4f electrons shield the outer shell electrons less effectively than s, p, and d electrons.
• As a result, the effective nuclear charge increases, and the atomic and ionic radii decrease.
• The shielding effect is less effective in the lanthanide series due to the filling of the 4f subshell located near the nucleus.
• The poor shielding effect produces a greater-than-expected decrease in atomic and ionic radii.
• The shielding effect is a fundamental concept in chemistry, where inner shell electrons protect outer shell electrons from the positive charge of the nucleus.

Electronic Configuration of Lanthanide

Electronic configuration results from the unique energy levels of the 4f, 5d, and 6s subshells, which gradually fill the 4f sublevel before the 5d and 6s sublevels. The filling of the 4f sublevel gives the general electronic configuration of the lanthanides. For example, the electronic configurations of some lanthanide elements are as follows: