Actinides are a group of chemical elements that are located in the periodic table in the row below the lanthanides (also known as the rare earth elements). The actinides include the elements from atomic number 89 (actinium) to atomic number 103 (lawrencium). The actinides are generally classified as metals, although some of them have properties that are more similar to nonmetals. They are all radioactive and have relatively long half-lives, which means that they decay slowly over time. The actinides are important in many areas of science and technology, including nuclear physics, chemistry, and engineering. They are used in nuclear reactors and weapons, and are also important for medical and industrial applications. The actinides have complex electronic structures, with many of the elements having partially filled 5f orbitals. This makes them interesting for studying the chemistry of f orbitals and for investigating the behavior of heavy elements. Some of the most well-known actinides include uranium, plutonium, and americium.
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