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57La138.905

Lanthanum

LanthanidesBlock fPeriod 6solid at 20 °C
Configuration :
[Xe] 5d¹ 6s²
Atomic mass :
138.90547 u
French :
Lanthane
3D Bohr-model representation of the Lanthanum atom (symbol La, atomic number Z=57). Electron shell configuration: 2, 8, 18, 18, 9, 2 electrons.
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Bohr model · educational
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s, p, d and f orbitals

3D geometry of orbitals, spherical harmonics, lobes and nodes. Chemical consequences.

14 min
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Electron configuration

Full1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s² 5p⁶ 5d¹ 6s²
Short[Xe] 5d¹ 6s²
Valence electrons3
KLMNOPQ shells
K2
L8
M18
N18
O9
P2

Electronegativity

Pauling1.1
Allen
Mulliken (eV)

Atomic radii

Empirical195 pm
Calculated226 pm
Covalent207 pm
Van der Waals
Ionic radii (Shannon-Prewitt)
+3103.2 pm

Successive ionisation energies

I₁538.1 kJ/mol
I₂1067 kJ/mol
I₃1850.3 kJ/mol
Electron affinity

Oxidation states

+2+3
Bold states = most common.
Period 6Block fFamily Lanthanides
Sources : NIST Atomic Weights & Isotopic Compositions, IUPAC Recommendations, CODATA. Methodology