Trick to Remember F-Block Elements

F-block elements are a group of chemical elements that are located in the period table's f-block. These elements are also known as inner transition elements and are a part of the lanthanide and actinide series. Remembering these elements can be quite challenging, but there are some tricks to help you remember them better.

The Trick

The trick to remembering the f-block elements is to associate them with their electron configurations. The electron configuration of the f-block elements is unique and can be easily used to identify them. Here is a trick to remember the f-block elements based on their electron configurations:

The first two electrons in the f-orbital are always the same - [Xe] 4f1 5d0.

The next 14 electrons fill the 4f orbitals in a specific order - 4f2, 4f3, 4f4, 4f5, 4f6, 4f7, 4f8, 4f9, 4f10, 4f11, 4f12, 4f13, 4f14.

The remaining electrons fill the 5d orbital in a specific order - 5d1, 5d2, 5d3, 5d4, 5d5, 5d6, 5d7, 5d8, 5d9, 5d10.

The f-block elements are divided into two groups:

Lanthanides - These elements have their 4f orbitals partially filled, with the remaining electrons filling the 5d orbital.

Actinides - These elements have their 5f orbitals partially filled, with the remaining electrons filling the 6d orbital.

Summary

To sum up, the trick to remembering the f-block elements is to associate them with their electron configurations. The unique electron configuration of the f-block elements can be used to identify them easily. The f-block elements are divided into two groups, lanthanides and actinides, based on their electron configurations. Remembering the order in which the electrons fill the f-orbitals and d-orbitals can help you identify these elements quickly and easily.