The series of elements beginning with actinium (atomic number 89) and including thorium, protactinium, uranium, and the transuranium elements through the element lawrencium (atomic number 103). These elements have a strong chemical resemblance to the lanthanide, or rare-earth, elements of atomic numbers 57 to 71. Their atomic numbers, names, and chemical symbols are: 89, actinium
actinoid or actinide any member of the series of 15 metallic elements with proton numbers 89 (actinium) to 103 (lawrencium) inclusive that occur together in group 3 and period 7 of the IUPAC periodic table; sometimes the term is restricted to the 14 elements following actinium. Actinoid is now the preferred name. All actinoids are