Why Lutetium & Lawrencium always been in f-orbital group?

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In summary, the traditional arrangement of the Periodic Table for Baby Boomer and Generation X generations included a separate section at the bottom for f-orbital-filling elements. However, with the addition of Lawrencium, new elements became more difficult to produce and were grouped with the f-orbital section. This was done for the sake of the table's elegance, despite being technically incorrect. The current Wikipedia table has a more proper arrangement, with all elements up to eka-Radon included. The same approach is used for the d block, although it has always been included in the middle and not separated like the f-orbital section.
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swampwiz
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It seems that for folks of my generation (Baby Boomer, Generation X), the canonical arrangement of the Periodic Table was for the f-orbital-filling elements to be in a separate section at the bottom. OK, I can see why this makes sense as otherwise the table would be really wide with a lot of empty space. But these 2 elements had always seemed to be included in this bottom section, which is OK for most of those elements, but not for these 2 as the f-orbital should be finished filling up.

Now, what I think happened is that once Lawrencium had been added, new elements became much more difficult to produce, and so rather than have a dangling Lw all by its lonesome, the table presenters simply lumped it and its eka-cousin Lu with the f-orbital sections and just figured that the elegance of the table at that time was worth having it be wrong.

I see that Wikipedia has a proper table, that seems to be at a very elegant arrangement, now that all the elements up to eka-Radon (Oganesson) have been named/added. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perio...periodic_table,_with_Lu_and_Lr_in_group_3.png
 
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Same approach is used with d block, isn't it?

Sure, the d block was never separated from the rest and put below (or at least I have never seen PT done this way), but when it sits in the middle it stands out together with the Zn, Cd and Hg, all having d10 configuration.
 

FAQ: Why Lutetium & Lawrencium always been in f-orbital group?

1. Why are Lutetium and Lawrencium always found in the f-orbital group?

Lutetium and Lawrencium are both elements in the f-orbital group because they have 14 electrons in the f-orbital shell. This is due to their atomic numbers, 71 and 103 respectively, which correspond to the placement of these elements in the f-block of the periodic table. The f-orbital group is named after the f-orbital shell, which can hold a maximum of 14 electrons.

2. What is the significance of Lutetium and Lawrencium being in the f-orbital group?

The f-orbital group is unique because it consists of inner transition metals, which have special properties due to their partially filled f-orbital shells. Lutetium and Lawrencium, being in this group, have similar chemical and physical properties such as high melting and boiling points, and the ability to form colored compounds.

3. Is there a reason why Lutetium and Lawrencium have atomic numbers that correspond to their placement in the f-block?

Yes, the atomic number of an element is determined by the number of protons in its nucleus. Since Lutetium and Lawrencium have 14 electrons in the f-orbital shell, they also have 14 protons in their nuclei, which gives them atomic numbers of 71 and 103, respectively. This placement in the f-block is a result of their electron configurations.

4. Are there any other elements in the f-orbital group besides Lutetium and Lawrencium?

Yes, there are 14 elements in the f-orbital group, also known as the lanthanide and actinide series. These elements include Cerium, Europium, and Uranium, to name a few. They are all characterized by their partially filled f-orbital shells, giving them similar properties.

5. Can Lutetium and Lawrencium ever be found outside of the f-orbital group?

No, Lutetium and Lawrencium will always be found in the f-orbital group because of their electron configurations. In order for these elements to be found outside of this group, they would need to gain or lose electrons, which would change their chemical properties. However, as stable elements, Lutetium and Lawrencium will always maintain their 14 electrons in the f-orbital shell.

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