Electronic Energy Levels in the Trivalent Lanthanide Aquo Ions. I. Pr3+, Nd3+, Pm3+, Sm3+, Dy3+, Ho3+, Er3+, and Tm3+

Abstract

The free‐ion energy‐level schemes of the Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Pm³⁺, Sm³⁺, Dy³⁺, Ho³⁺, Er³⁺, and Tm³⁺ aquo ions have been determined from their absorption spectra in dilute acid solution at 25°. Energy‐level assignments were made by comparison with crystal spectra, and on the basis of correlations between calculated and observed band intensities. For most of the ions, it was possible to identify several transitions giving rise to bands at energies as high as 45 000–50 000 cm⁻¹. Sufficient numbers of assignments were made to justify inclusion of the effects of configuration interaction in the calculation of the energy‐level parameters. Variation of the electrostatic, spin–orbit coupling, and configuration‐interaction parameters across the lanthanide series is examined.