This volume of the Handbook is the second of a three-volume set of reviews devoted to the interrelationships, similarities, differences, and contrasts of the lanthanide and actinide series of elements. In particular this book considers the comparisons of the chemistry of the lanthanide and actinide elements.

The lanthanide and actinide elements present a multitude of challenging physical and chemical problems resulting from the involvement of open F-shell electronic configurations. This is made clear in the chapters composing these volumes which cover topics such as: the experimental and theoretical aspects of solution absorption and luminescence spectra to reveal similarities and differences in the two f-series; the methods and effectiveness of separation by solvent extraction, ion exchange and necessary accompanying reactions; the comparative thermochemical and oxidation-reduction properties of lanthanide and actinide materials; interrelationships and comparisons of the halides; an examination of the relative hydration and hydrolysis behaviors of the lanthanides and actinides.