Case: Read the passage and answer the following questions

The f-block consists of the two series, lanthanoids (the fourteen elements following lanthanum) and actinoids (the fourteen elements following actinium). Because lanthanum closely resembles the lanthanoids, it is usually included in any discussion of the lanthanoids for which the general symbol Ln is often used. They have only one stable oxidation state and their chemistry provides an excellent opportunity to examine the effect of small changes in size and nuclear charge along a series of otherwise similar elements.

What is the general electronic configuration of the lanthanides?

(n-2)f ^1-14 (n-1)d ^0-1 ns²

In lanthanides, the differentiating electron occupies 4f subshell and are rarely found on the earth’s crust, so called rare earths. The general electronic configuration of lanthanides is 6s²5d^0-14f^1-14.