J. D. Lee Solutions for Chapter: The Lanthanide Series, Exercise 1: Exercise 1

Name the Lanthanoid elements in the correct order and give their chemical symbols and electronic structures.

In what way are the observed oxidation states of the Lanthanoids related to their electronic structures?

Why is it difficult to separate compounds of the lanthanoid elements? What methods have been used and which of these are still used?

In what ways does the filling of the $4\mathrm{f}$ energy level affect the rest of the periodic table?

Contrast the electronic spectra of the lanthanoid and the transition metal ions. Why do the lanthanoid ions give rise to very sharp bands in their electronic spectra, and why are the magnetic properties of their complexes little affected by the nature of the ligands?

Compare the coordination numbers and stereochemistry commonly found in lanthanoid complexes with those commonly found in transition metal complexes.

Work out the number of unpaired electrons in the ground state of the following ions:

${\mathrm{La}}^{3+}, {\mathrm{Ce}}^{4+}, {\mathrm{Lu}}^{3+}, {\mathrm{Yb}}^{2+}, {\mathrm{Gd}}^{3+}, {\mathrm{Eu}}^{2+}, {\mathrm{Tb}}^{4+}.$