Lanthanides of the Periodic Table
The lanthanides are the 15 elements from lanthanum to lutetium, part of the f-block, with very similar chemical properties; they are often grouped among the “rare earths”. There are 15 elements of this category in the periodic table, from Lanthanum (La), atomic number 57, to Lutetium (Lu), atomic number 71.
Lanthanides at a glance
- Number of elements: 15
- Phase under standard conditions: Solid 15 elements
Element list
| Atomic no. | Symbol | Name | Atomic mass | Phase | Short configuration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57 | La | Lanthanum | 138.91 | Solid | [Xe] 5d¹ 6s² |
| 58 | Ce | Cerium | 140.12 | Solid | [Xe] 4f¹ 5d¹ 6s² |
| 59 | Pr | Praseodymium | 140.91 | Solid | [Xe] 4f³ 6s² |
| 60 | Nd | Neodymium | 144.24 | Solid | [Xe] 4f⁴ 6s² |
| 61 | Pm | Promethium | 145 | Solid | [Xe] 4f⁵ 6s² |
| 62 | Sm | Samarium | 150.36 | Solid | [Xe] 4f⁶ 6s² |
| 63 | Eu | Europium | 151.96 | Solid | [Xe] 4f⁷ 6s² |
| 64 | Gd | Gadolinium | 157.25 | Solid | [Xe] 4f⁷ 5d¹ 6s² |
| 65 | Tb | Terbium | 158.93 | Solid | [Xe] 4f⁹ 6s² |
| 66 | Dy | Dysprosium | 162.5 | Solid | [Xe] 4f¹⁰ 6s² |
| 67 | Ho | Holmium | 164.93 | Solid | [Xe] 4f¹¹ 6s² |
| 68 | Er | Erbium | 167.26 | Solid | [Xe] 4f¹² 6s² |
| 69 | Tm | Thulium | 168.93 | Solid | [Xe] 4f¹³ 6s² |
| 70 | Yb | Ytterbium | 173.05 | Solid | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 6s² |
| 71 | Lu | Lutetium | 174.97 | Solid | [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹ 6s² |
Frequently asked questions
Which elements are the lanthanides?
The lanthanides are Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium, Promethium, Samarium, Europium, Gadolinium, Terbium, Dysprosium, Holmium, Erbium, Thulium, Ytterbium and Lutetium.
How many elements are in the lanthanides category?
The periodic table has 15 elements in the lanthanides category.