Transition metals
The lanthanide series consists of 14 elements because it corresponds to the filling of the 4f sublevel in the electron configuration of the elements. This series starts with the element lanthanum (La) and ends with lutetium (Lu), encompassing a range of elements with progressively increasing atomic numbers.
There are ten elements in each transition series of the periodic table because each series corresponds to the filling of the d-orbitals, which can hold a maximum of ten electrons. The transition metals are defined by the presence of electrons in these d-orbitals, and the elements in each series represent the sequential addition of electrons to these orbitals. Consequently, each transition series encompasses ten elements, from scandium (Sc) to zinc (Zn) in the first series, for example.
The two rows of elements placed below the periodic table are known as f block elements. The two rows are also known as lanthanides and actinides. In these elements, the electrons are filled in the antepenaltimate f orbital.
Lets take the Lanthanides as an example. Lanthanum has its 5d sublevel filled before its 4f, even though the 4f is lower in energy and should, by the Aufbau Principle, be filled first. However, this is an exception because it happens to be the most stable configuration. It has one electron in the 5d sublevel and none in the 4f, and since it has no "f" electrons, it cannot be part of the f-bar's upper row (the Lanthanide series). The Lanthanides themselves will each also have one electron in the 5d sublevel, and the first element will also have one in the 4f sublevel. This trend will continue for all 14, and thus the 4f sublevel is filled. Hafnium, the element immediately after the last Lanthanide, will resume filling the 5d sublevel as normal, with two electrons in it and a completely filled 4f sublevel. The anomaly does not really change much; after all, if the valence electron in Lanthanum were not in the 5d sublevel and instead in the 4f, it would start off the Lanthanide series, there would be 14, and it would simply end one element before it normally does. The numbers all add up, in any case, and this is the natural order of things. For Actinides, replace the word Lanthanum with Actinium, Hafnium with Darmstadtium, 5d with 6d, and 4f with 5f. Everything works out perfectly; all the confusion is just caused by the stubborn little electron who doesn't want to be the first f-block element (and so he moves up into 5d, and stays there while the others take their appropiate places, which are moved one up thanks to his desire to maintain stability).
Assuming that series is used the same way as group in the periodic table, elements in the same series have the same number of valence electrons.
The set of elements that has electrons added to the 4f sublevel as the atomic number increases are the lanthanide series elements, from cerium (Z = 58) to lutetium (Z = 71). The 4f sublevel can hold up to 14 electrons per element, hence as we move across this series, electrons are successively added to the 4f sublevel.
The energy sublevel being filled by the elements Ce to Lu is the 4f sublevel. These elements are part of the lanthanide series and have their outermost electrons entering the 4f orbital.
If the valence electrons are being added to the 4f orbitals, that means the element is lanthanides or actinides which further proves that the element is a heavy element and a member of f -block.
The first transition series includes the filling of the 3d sublevel orbitals in transition metal elements from Scandium (Sc) to Zinc (Zn). These elements gradually fill the 3d orbital with electrons as they progress across the period, leading to the formation of various oxidation states and colorful compounds due to the presence of partially filled d orbitals.
This description fits elements in the lanthanide and actinide series of the periodic table. These elements have their highest occupied s sublevel and a nearby f sublevel containing electrons due to the electron configurations in their atoms.
The lanthanide series consists of 14 elements because it corresponds to the filling of the 4f sublevel in the electron configuration of the elements. This series starts with the element lanthanum (La) and ends with lutetium (Lu), encompassing a range of elements with progressively increasing atomic numbers.
There are ten elements in each transition series of the periodic table because each series corresponds to the filling of the d-orbitals, which can hold a maximum of ten electrons. The transition metals are defined by the presence of electrons in these d-orbitals, and the elements in each series represent the sequential addition of electrons to these orbitals. Consequently, each transition series encompasses ten elements, from scandium (Sc) to zinc (Zn) in the first series, for example.
The two rows of elements placed below the periodic table are known as f block elements. The two rows are also known as lanthanides and actinides. In these elements, the electrons are filled in the antepenaltimate f orbital.
Most scientists describe a "transition metal" as any element in the d-block of the periodic table, which includes groups 3 to 12 on the periodic table. The f-block 'lanthanide and actinide' series are also considered transition metals and are called "inner transition metals".
D orbitals start to get filled after the 3p orbitals in the periodic table. They are typically filled after filling the 4s orbital, as the 3d orbitals are the next to be filled in the transition metal series.
Lets take the Lanthanides as an example. Lanthanum has its 5d sublevel filled before its 4f, even though the 4f is lower in energy and should, by the Aufbau Principle, be filled first. However, this is an exception because it happens to be the most stable configuration. It has one electron in the 5d sublevel and none in the 4f, and since it has no "f" electrons, it cannot be part of the f-bar's upper row (the Lanthanide series). The Lanthanides themselves will each also have one electron in the 5d sublevel, and the first element will also have one in the 4f sublevel. This trend will continue for all 14, and thus the 4f sublevel is filled. Hafnium, the element immediately after the last Lanthanide, will resume filling the 5d sublevel as normal, with two electrons in it and a completely filled 4f sublevel. The anomaly does not really change much; after all, if the valence electron in Lanthanum were not in the 5d sublevel and instead in the 4f, it would start off the Lanthanide series, there would be 14, and it would simply end one element before it normally does. The numbers all add up, in any case, and this is the natural order of things. For Actinides, replace the word Lanthanum with Actinium, Hafnium with Darmstadtium, 5d with 6d, and 4f with 5f. Everything works out perfectly; all the confusion is just caused by the stubborn little electron who doesn't want to be the first f-block element (and so he moves up into 5d, and stays there while the others take their appropiate places, which are moved one up thanks to his desire to maintain stability).
The s sub-level can hold a maximum of two electrons; , p a maximum of 6; d, a maximum of 10 and f, a maximum of 14 (although the f sub-level is only present in the lanthanide and actanide series).