Abstract: Publisher SummaryThis chapter discusses the history, abundance, distribution, and production of the lanthanide elements. The lanthanides comprise the largest naturally occurring group in the periodic table. There are more than 100 minerals known to contain lanthanides, but the only two of commercial importance are monazite and bastnaesite. The chapter discusses the production of lanthanide elements by electrolysis of fused salts and by metallothermic reduction. The chapter discusses the physical properties, chemical reactivity, and group trends of the lanthanide elements. The metals are silvery in appearance except for europium and yttrium that are pale yellow in color. The chapter explains the cause of this “lanthanide contraction.” The lanthanides are electropositive and reactive metals. With the exception of yttrium, their reactivity apparently depends on size; therefore, europium, which has the largest metal radius, is the most reactive. Moreover, a number of trends connected with ionic radii are noticeable across the series.
Publication Year: 1997
Publication Date: 1997-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 2
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