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Elements for Kids

Lanthanides and Actinides

The lanthanides and actinides are groups of elements in the periodic table. They are the elements that are often listed below the main section of the periodic table. There are thirty total elements in the lanthanides and actinides. They are often called the "inner transition metals."

Lanthanides

The lanthanides are the elements with atomic numbers from 57 to 71. These 15 metals (along with scandium and yttrium) are often called the rare earth elements. They are all silvery-white metals which are often found in the same ores. They are called the lanthanides because they exhibit similar chemical properties to lanthanum, the first element in the group.

Actinides

Actinides are the 15 elements with atomic numbers from 89 to 103. They are named after the first element in the series, actinium. The actinides group includes mostly man-made elements with only a few exceptions such as uranium and thorium. The actinides are most known for the elements uranium and plutonium which are used in nuclear reactors and nuclear bombs.

Interesting Facts about Lanthanides and Actinides


More on the Elements and the Periodic Table

Elements
Periodic Table

Alkali Metals
Lithium
Sodium
Potassium

Alkaline Earth Metals
Beryllium
Magnesium
Calcium
Radium

Transition Metals
Scandium
Titanium
Vanadium
Chromium
Manganese
Iron
Cobalt
Nickel
Copper
Zinc
Silver
Platinum
Gold
Mercury
Post-transition Metals
Aluminum
Gallium
Tin
Lead

Metalloids
Boron
Silicon
Germanium
Arsenic

Nonmetals
Hydrogen
Carbon
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Phosphorus
Sulfur
Halogens
Fluorine
Chlorine
Iodine

Noble Gases
Helium
Neon
Argon

Lanthanides and Actinides
Uranium
Plutonium

More Chemistry Subjects

Matter
Atom
Molecules
Isotopes
Solids, Liquids, Gases
Melting and Boiling
Chemical Bonding
Chemical Reactions
Radioactivity and Radiation
Mixtures and Compounds
Naming Compounds
Mixtures
Separating Mixtures
Solutions
Acids and Bases
Crystals
Metals
Salts and Soaps
Water
Other
Glossary and Terms
Chemistry Lab Equipment
Organic Chemistry
Famous Chemists


Science >> Chemistry for Kids >> Periodic Table


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