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Related Concept Videos

Periodic Classification of the Elements04:00

Periodic Classification of the Elements

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The periodic table arranges atoms based on increasing atomic number so that elements with the same chemical properties recur periodically. When their electron configurations are added to the table, a periodic recurrence of similar electron configurations in the outer shells of these elements is observed. Because they are in the outer shells of an atom, valence electrons play the most important role in chemical reactions. The outer electrons have the highest energy of the electrons in an atom...
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Proteins are dynamic macromolecules that carry out a wide variety of essential processes; however, the activities of most proteins depend on their interactions with other molecules or ions, known as ligands.
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Elements and Compounds01:27

Elements and Compounds

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Pure substances consist of only one type of matter. A pure substance can be an element or a compound. An element consists of only one type of atom, while a compound consists of two or more types of atoms held together by a chemical bond.
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The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
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Ligand Binding and Linkage00:49

Ligand Binding and Linkage

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Allosteric proteins have more than one ligand binding site; the binding of a ligand to any of these sites influences the binding of ligands to the other sites. When a protein is allosteric, its binding sites are called coupled or linked.  In the case of enzymes, the site that binds to the substrate is known as the active site and the other site is known as the regulatory site. When a ligand binds to the regulatory site, this leads to conformational changes in the protein that can influence...
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Classification of Elements and Compounds02:54

Classification of Elements and Compounds

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Pure substances consist of only one type of matter. A pure substance can be an element or a compound. An element consists of only one type of atom, while a compound consists of two or more types of atoms held together by a chemical bond. Elements are classified as atomic or molecular based on the nature of their basic units.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Sulfate Separation by Selective Crystallization with a Bis-iminoguanidinium Ligand
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pH-Tunable, Ligand-Free Selective Separation of Rare Earth Elements Using Silica Nanoparticles.

Yuxuan Dai1, Daeyeon Lee1, Kathleen J Stebe1

  • 1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|February 12, 2026
PubMed
Summary

This study reveals how unmodified silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) can selectively separate rare earth elements (REEs) by controlling pH. This offers a sustainable alternative for REE extraction in clean energy technologies.

Keywords:
lanthanide hydrolysisnanoparticle surface chemistrypH-responsive separationrare earth adsorptionsolid-phase extraction

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Environmental Science
  • Inorganic Chemistry

Background:

  • Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical for clean energy technologies but challenging to separate due to similar properties.
  • Conventional separation methods like liquid-liquid extraction are energy-intensive and environmentally damaging.
  • Unmodified silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) are largely unexplored for selective REE adsorption.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the pH-dependent interactions between REEs and unmodified SiO2 NPs.
  • To understand the mechanisms of REE adsorption and desorption on SiO2 NPs.
  • To explore the selective separation of REEs using SiO2 NPs.

Main Methods:

  • Studied REE adsorption/desorption on SiO2 NPs across various pH conditions.
  • Identified three distinct pH-dependent interaction regimes: negligible, electrostatic, and hydrolysis-mediated.
  • Investigated size-dependent selectivity and competitive adsorption in binary and ternary mixtures.

Main Results:

  • Identified three pH-dependent regimes governing REE-SiO2 NP interactions: negligible, electrostatic, and hydrolysis-mediated.
  • Demonstrated reversible REE capture and release via pH swing.
  • Observed size-dependent selectivity for smaller REEs in adsorption and selective desorption of smaller REEs by lowering pH.

Conclusions:

  • Unmodified SiO2 NPs can selectively capture and separate REEs through pH control.
  • This ligand-free, pH-responsive strategy offers a sustainable alternative for REE separation.
  • Fundamental insights into REE-SiO2 NP interactions pave the way for advanced materials in clean energy.