“MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF

LANTHANIDES”
Introduction

What are lanthanides?

The lanthanide or lanthanide series of chemical elements comprises 15
metallic chemical elements with atomic numbers 57–71 from the lanthanum
through lutetium. These elements along with chemically similar elements
including scandium and yttrium are often collectively known as the rare earth
elements
  Magnetic behaviour

• Those substances which are weakly attracted by strong

magnetic field
1. Paramagnetic • It is caused by the presence of unpaired electrons
behaviour • For example in lanthanides f1 to f13 show this behaviour

• Those substances which are weakly repelled by strong

magnetic field
2. Diamagnetic behaviour • Absence of unpaired electrons
•
For example in lanthanides f0 & f14 show this behaviour
 Cause of Paramagnetism

• Among Lanthanides, La3+ (4f0. 5d0. 6s0) and Lu3+ (4f14 .5d0 .6s0) ions have
no unpaired electrons. Therefore, all the electrons are paired, these ions show
diamagnetic behavior.

• On the other hand, the remaining tripositive lanthanide ions (M3+ ions) are
paramagnetic as they have 1, 2, 3-------- -7 unpaired electrons.

• The 4f electrons are deep inside the ion and are well shielded from the
surroundings by the overlying 5s and 5p orbitals. As a result, the ligands
surrounding the ion does not restrict orbital motion of the electron
 Magnetic Properties

• Magnetic properties arise from spin and orbital angular momentum of the electrons

• Spin angular momentum

• When the electron spins around its axis
1 • It is denoted by S

• Orbital angular momentum

• When the electron revolves in orbit
2 • It is denoted by L