Rare earths electronic configuration

Atomic number Rare earth Electronic configuration of (111 ions) Ground term Experimental magnetic moment (/ b)... 

The primary challenge is to explore the conditions under which a f-transition element or compound deviates from the standard rare earth electron configuration, i.e., a highly localized trivalent ionic configuration f" derived from the configuration f" (f or d ) s of the free atoms. In the lanthanides (Ln) 4f, 5d and 6s electrons are involved, in actinides (An) 5f, 6d and 7s electrons. 

Although rare-earth ions are mosdy trivalent, lanthanides can exist in the divalent or tetravalent state when the electronic configuration is close to the stable empty, half-fUed, or completely fiUed sheUs. Thus samarium, europium, thuUum, and ytterbium can exist as divalent cations in certain environments. On the other hand, tetravalent cerium, praseodymium, and terbium are found, even as oxides where trivalent and tetravalent states often coexist. The stabili2ation of the different valence states for particular rare earths is sometimes used for separation from the other trivalent lanthanides. The chemicals properties of the di- and tetravalent ions are significantly different. 

According to this assignment the differentiating electron, that is, the final electron to enter the atom of lutetium, wss seen as an f electron. This suggested that lutetium should be the final element in the first row of the rare earth elements, in which f electrons are progressively filled, and not a transition element as had been believed by the chemists. As a result of more recent spectroscopic experiments the configuration of ytterbium has been altered to (27)... 

Other Changes In Electronic Configurations Including the Rare Earths... 

The divalent rare-earth ion Eu has the 4f electronic configuration at the ground states and the 4f 5d electronic configuration at the excited states. The broadband absorption and luminescence of Eu are due to 4f - 4 f 5d transitions. The emission of Eu is very strongly dependent on the host lattice. It can vary from the ultraviolet to the red region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Furthermore, the 4f-5d transition of Eu decays relatively fast, less than a few microseconds [33]. 

Iron is the second most abundant metal on earth. It is a group 8 and period 4 element with [Ar] 3cf4s as electronic configuration. Iron as a metal is rarely found because it oxidizes readily in the presence of oxygen and moisture. Hence, it forms salts in its preferred oxidation state +2 and +3. 

Most of the U-series nuclides are metals. Five of them belong to the actinide family corresponding to the filling of the internal orbitals while the orbitals 7s are filled. A sixth, Ra is an alkali earth and shares some chemical properties with other alkali earths, particularly the heavier ones (Sr and Ba), while a seventh, Rn, is a noble gas. The filling of the orbitals prescribes the possible oxidation states of these elements. Their preferred oxidation state is obtained when the electronic configuration is that of the closest rare gas (Rn). 

Although the role of rare earth ions on the surface of TiC>2 or close to them is important from the point of electron exchange, still more important is the number of f-electrons present in the valence shell of a particular rare earth. As in case of transition metal doped semiconductor catalysts, which produce n-type WO3 semiconductor [133] or p-type NiO semiconductor [134] catalysts and affect the overall kinetics of the reaction, the rare earth ions with just less than half filled (f5 6) shell produce p-type semiconductor catalysts and with slightly more than half filled electronic configuration (f8 10) would act as n-type of semiconductor catalyst. Since the half filled (f7) state is most stable, ions with f5 6 electrons would accept electrons from the surface of TiC>2 and get reduced and rare earth ions with f8-9 electrons would tend to lose electrons to go to stabler electronic configuration of f7. The tendency of rare earths with f1 3 electrons would be to lose electrons and thus behave as n-type of semiconductor catalyst to attain completely vacant f°- shell state [135]. The valence electrons of rare earths are rather embedded deep into their inner shells (n-2), hence not available easily for chemical reactions, but the cavitational energy of ultrasound activates them to participate in the chemical reactions, therefore some of the unknown oxidation states (as Dy+4) may also be seen [136,137]. 

Lanthanides, 1 469-470 14 630-654 25 392. See also Rare-earth entries arc and spark spectra of, 14 633 cation binding of, 24 41 electronic configurations, 1 474t economic aspects of, 14 643-647 health and safety factors related to,... 

Y-section rayon, 11 262, 263 Ytterbium (Yb), 14 631t, 635t electronic configuration, l 474t Yttria, 5 583, 14 630 Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), 26 637 Yttric rare earths (RE), 14 631 Yttrium(III)... 

Moreover, the analysis of the optical spectra of transition metal and rare earth ions is very illnstrative, as they present qnite different features due to their particular electronic configurations transition metal ions have optically active unfilled outer 3d shells, while rare earth ions have unfilled optically active 4f electrons screened by outer electroiuc filled shells. Because of these unfilled shells, both kind of ion are usually called paramagnetic ions. 

The rare earth (RE) ions most commonly used for applications as phosphors, lasers, and amplifiers are the so-called lanthanide ions. Lanthanide ions are formed by ionization of a nnmber of atoms located in periodic table after lanthanum from the cerium atom (atomic number 58), which has an onter electronic configuration 5s 5p 5d 4f 6s, to the ytterbium atom (atomic number 70), with an outer electronic configuration 5s 5p 4f " 6s. These atoms are nsnally incorporated in crystals as divalent or trivalent cations. In trivalent ions 5d, 6s, and some 4f electrons are removed and so (RE) + ions deal with transitions between electronic energy sublevels of the 4f" electroiuc configuration. Divalent lanthanide ions contain one more f electron (for instance, the Eu + ion has the same electronic configuration as the Gd + ion, the next element in the periodic table) but, at variance with trivalent ions, they tand use to show f d interconfigurational optical transitions. This aspect leads to quite different spectroscopic properties between divalent and trivalent ions, and so we will discuss them separately. 

Divalent rare earth ions also have an outer electronic configuration of 4f"( including one more electron than for the equivalent trivalent rare earth). However, unlike that of (RE) + ions, the 4f " 5d excited configuration of divalent rare earth ions is not far from the 4f" fundamental configuration. As a result, 4f" 4f " 5d transitions can possibly occur in the optical range for divalent rare earth ions. They lead to intense (parity-allowed transitions) and broad absorption and emission bands. 

Chapter 6 is devoted to discussing the main optical properties of transition metal ions (3d" outer electronic configuration), trivalent rare earth ions (4f 5s 5p outer electronic configuration), and color centers, based on the concepts introduced in Chapter 5. These are the usual centers in solid state lasers and in various phosphors. In addition, these centers are very interesting from a didactic viewpoint. We introduce the Tanabe-Sugano and Dieke diagrams and their application to the interpretation of the main spectral features of transition metal ion and trivalent rare earth ion spectra, respectively. Color centers are also introduced in this chapter, special attention being devoted to the spectra of the simplest F centers in alkali halides. 

The CTI band has nothing to do with the varying f-electron configuration of the rare earth ions. If this would be the case, the... 

Symbol Ce atomic number 58 atomic weight 140.115 a rare-earth metal a lanthanide series inner-transition /-block element metaUic radius (alpha form) 1.8247A(CN=12) atomic volume 20.696 cm /mol electronic configuration [Xe]4fi5di6s2 common valence states -i-3 and +4 four stable isotopes Ce-140 and Ce-142 are the two major ones, their percent abundances 88.48% and 11.07%, respectively. Ce—138 (0.25%) and Ce—136(0.193%) are minor isotopes several artificial radioactive isotopes including Ce-144, a major fission product (ti 284.5 days), are known. 

Symbol Dy atomic number 66 atomic weight 162.50 a lanthanide series, inner transition, rare earth metal electron configuration [Xe]4 5di6s2 atomic volume 19.032 cm /g. atom atomic radius 1.773A ionic radius 0.908A most common valence state +3. 

Symbol Gd atomic number 64 atomic weight 157.25 a lanthanide series rare earth element electron configuration 4/ 5di6s2 partially filled / orbital common oxidation state -i-3 six stable natural isotopes Gd-152 (0.2%), Gd-154 (2.86%), Gd-155 (15.61%, Gd-156 (20.59%), Gd-157 (16.42%), Gd-157 (23.45%)... 

Symbol Ho atomic number 67 atomic weight 164.93 a lanthanide series rare earth element electron configuration [Xe]4/ii6s2 valence state +3 metallic radius (coordination number 12) 1.767A atomic volume 18.78 cc/mol ionic radius Ho3+ 0.894A one naturally occurring isotope. Ho-165. 

Symbol La atomic number 57 atomic weight 138.91 a rare-earth transition metal, precursor to a series of 14 inner-transition elements known as the lanthanide series electron configuration [XejSdiGs oxidation state -i-3 atomic radius 1.879A ionic radius (LaS+) 1.061A electronegativity 1.17 two natural isotopes are La-139 (99.911%) and La-138 (0.089%). 

Symbol Nd atomic number 60 atomic weight 144.24 a rare earth lanthanide element a hght rare earth metal of cerium group an inner transition metal characterized by partially filled 4/ subshell electron configuration [Xe]4/35di6s2 most common valence state -i-3 other oxidation state +2 standard electrode potential, Nd + -i- 3e -2.323 V atomic radius 1.821 A (for CN 12) ionic radius, Nd + 0.995A atomic volume 20.60 cc/mol ionization potential 6.31 eV seven stable isotopes Nd-142 (27.13%), Nd-143 (12.20%), Nd-144 (23.87%), Nd-145 (8.29%), Nd-146 (17.18%), Nd-148 (5.72%), Nd-150 (5.60%) twenty-three radioisotopes are known in the mass range 127-141, 147, 149, 151-156. 

Symbol Tb atomic number 65 atomic weight 158.925 a lanthanide series element an inner-transition rare earth metal electron configuration fXe]4/96s2 valence states -i-3, +4 mean atomic radius 1.782A ionic radii, Tb3+... 

Symbol Tm atomic number 69 atomic weight 168.93 a lanthanide series element a rare earth metal electron configuration iXe]4/i36s2 valence +2, -i-3 atomic radius 1.73 A ionic radius, Tm " " 1.09 A for coordination number 7 one stable, natural isotope Tm-169 (100%) thirty radioisotopes in the mass range 146-168, 170-176 ty, 1.92 years. 

---