Xenon ground state electronic configuration

Rare earth atoms are characterized with a ground-state electronic configuration, which consists of a core that is identical to that of xenon (Xe), while the remaining electrons occupy higher orbital levels. The shells of Xe atom, with quantum numbers n= 1,2, and 3 are completely filled, while in the shell with n = 4, s, p, and d subsheUs are fiiUy filled, whereas the 4f subshell capable of accommodating up to 14 electrons is empty. However, in the shell of n = 5, the 5s and 5p orbits are fiiUy filled with eight electrons. 

The formation and properties of the lanthanide complex species can be best understood by summarizing first some of the pertinent general characteristics of these elements. In their ground states, the lanthanide atoms have the characteristic valence-shell electronic configurations 4/"5 d 6 or 4 / + 6 where n = 0 for lanthanum and 14 for lutetium, overlying the closed-shell xenon arrangement. The atoms are large and readily oxidized. In both aqueous or nonaqueous systems and the solid state, oxidation... 

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