The first f-block elements were discovered in the 18th and 19th centuries, since the advent of the cyclotron many more of them have been isolated. The applications of these elements range from smoke detectors to catalytic converters and they are used widely in industry, for example, in the refining of oil and the manufacture of glass and ceramics. This systematic introduction to the chemistry of the lanthanide and actinide elements illustrates the main features of f-block chemistry and the important applications of the elements and their compounds. Details and references from research are included. Aimed at advanced undergraduate students learning about this area of inorganic chemistry, this book provides a detailed introduction to the topic. The book should also act as a useful reader for first year postgraduate students and researchers, particularly those from a non-inorganic chemistry background, requiring an overview of the area.