Question

What electron subshell is being filled for the rare earth series of elements on the periodic table? What electron subshell is being filled for the actinide series?

Answer 1

Answer:

• Scandium: 3d

• Yttrium: 4d

• Lanthanum: 5d

• Rest of rare earth elements: 4f (they are part of the f-block)
• Actinide series: 5f

Explanation:

The electron subshell being filled is defined by the differential electron, which is the last electron placed in the electron configuration.

The rare earth series involves 17 elements: scandium, yttrium and 15  lanthanides. The subshell filled for these elements are:

• Scandium: 3d

• Yttrium: 4d

• Lanthanum: 5d

• Rest of rare earth elements: 4f (they are part of the f-block)

The actinide series includes 15 elements. The electron subshell filled for these elements is 5f (they are part of the f-block).