- #1
nineteen
- 68
- 12
Basically, the F block is a series in the periodic table that consist of elements that are artificially synthesized. My question is, why were these elements synthesized? What was the need of synthesizing such elements?
Thank you for the answer.Ophiolite said:I am confident others with expertise in this area will provide specific scientific reasons, but arguably the underlying one is the same that accounts for all science - Curiosity.
nineteen said:Basically, the F block is a series in the periodic table that consist of elements that are artificially synthesized.
My question is, why were these elements synthesized? What was the need of synthesizing such elements?
My research is on Lanthanides and to very slightly correct Borek's statement, Promethium (Pm), the 5th element in the lanthanide series, is naturally unavailable. It can only be artificially synthesized and is radioactive.Borek said:Nope. All lanthanides and some actinides are perfectly 'natural'.
By the way, look up to the ceiling in some building. If you see a fluorescent lamp or LED lamp, the chance is, there are f-block elements in it. Specifically, Ce, Eu, and Tb for fluorescent lamps, and Ce for LED lamps. (Just to note that these days, there are increasingly more "warm" fluorescent lamps and LED lamps, which the composing elements are different.) If you have a cellphone or iphone or whatever phone with a camera, there's a little yellowish device next to it that you can use it for flashlight. Most likely, it is made out of Ce:YAG on a blue emitting diode.nineteen said:Basically, the F block is a series in the periodic table that consist of elements that are artificially synthesized. My question is, why were these elements synthesized? What was the need of synthesizing such elements?
HAYAO said:My research is on Lanthanides and to very slightly correct Borek's statement, Promethium (Pm), the 5th element in the lanthanide series, is naturally unavailable. It can only be artificially synthesized and is radioactive.
The first non-natural actinide elements where synthesized in the Manhattan atomic bomb project. Namely Plutonium was used in the "Fat man" bomb droped on Nagasaki.nineteen said:Basically, the F block is a series in the periodic table that consist of elements that are artificially synthesized. My question is, why were these elements synthesized? What was the need of synthesizing such elements?
Wow! Thank you so much for the information. Your comment is very helpful thank you again.HAYAO said:My research is on Lanthanides and to very slightly correct Borek's statement, Promethium (Pm), the 5th element in the lanthanide series, is naturally unavailable. It can only be artificially synthesized and is radioactive.By the way, look up to the ceiling in some building. If you see a fluorescent lamp or LED lamp, the chance is, there are f-block elements in it. Specifically, Ce, Eu, and Tb for fluorescent lamps, and Ce for LED lamps. (Just to note that these days, there are increasingly more "warm" fluorescent lamps and LED lamps, which the composing elements are different.) If you have a cellphone or iphone or whatever phone with a camera, there's a little yellowish device next to it that you can use it for flashlight. Most likely, it is made out of Ce:YAG on a blue emitting diode.
If I recall correctly, smoke detectors contain Americium (I forgot the specific isotope), a crucial element for the device to work. There are also depleted Uranium ammunition and armor plates. Neodymium is commonly used in lasers and magnets. Gadolinium compounds are used as an imaging agent for MRIs.
Basically, they are used everywhere.
Thank you for commenting, it is very informative.DrDu said:The first non-natural actinide elements where synthesized in the Manhattan atomic bomb project. Namely Plutonium was used in the "Fat man" bomb droped on Nagasaki.
jtbell said:Fun factoid: four of the lanthanides are named after the same town in Sweden, the location of the mine that produced the ores from which they were first discovered.
(Pic here)
(source: Wikipedia)
The F block of the periodic table is called the "lanthanides and actinides" because it contains two series of elements: the lanthanide series (also known as the rare earth elements) and the actinide series. These series are named after the first elements in each series, lanthanum and actinium, respectively.
Elements in the F block have similar properties, such as high melting and boiling points, high densities, and the ability to form colorful compounds. They also have very similar electron configurations, with the outermost electrons occupying the f orbitals.
The elements in the F block were placed at the bottom of the periodic table to conserve space and make it easier to read. Placing them in a separate row at the bottom also allows for the periodic table to maintain its rectangular shape.
The elements in the F block were discovered between the late 18th and early 20th centuries. The lanthanides were discovered in the late 1700s and early 1800s, while the actinides were discovered in the early 1900s.
The elements in the F block are often referred to as "inner transition metals" because they have properties that are similar to both the transition metals and the nonmetals. They are also located within the transition metals in the periodic table, making them "inner" transition metals.