Science, Tech, Math Science Lanthanides Definition Chemistry Glossary Definition of Lanthanides Share Flipboard Email Print The highlighted elements of this periodic table belong to the lanthanide element group. Todd Helmenstine/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain Science Chemistry Chemical Laws Basics Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry in Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Updated March 08, 2017 Lanthanides Definition: Elements with atomic numbers 58-71 (although there is some dispute over exactly where the lanthanides begin and end!). The lanthanide series is the group of elements in which the 4f sublevel is being filled. See the section on lanthanides for further information.Also Known As: Rare earth metals, rare earth elements, common earth elements.Lanthanide Examples: Europium, atomic number 63 citecite this article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Lanthanides Definition." ThoughtCo, Feb. 10, 2017, thoughtco.com/definition-of-lanthanides-604554. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2017, February 10). Lanthanides Definition. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-lanthanides-604554 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Lanthanides Definition." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-lanthanides-604554 (accessed April 24, 2018). copy citation Continue Reading