In Ellen's story, the lanthanides and actinides are the underground miners of Periodic Table Town.
They are transition metals, but keep a separate place on the Periodic Table. Can you suggest why?
The lanthanides are industrious types who provide rare metals for high-tech products. Find out about one: Neodymium.
The actinides can be dangerous as they are radioactive. But what is radioactivity?
Ellen describes uranium, for example, as 'like a big crumbly cookie. Little bits can break off easily. When as atom's nucleus begins to crumble, it doesn't drop crumbs or chocolate chips, however. It flings out protons, neutrons, electrons and rays dangerous energy'.
Does that help? You could try Youtube too for understandable answers to the question. Here is a video with animation, and a video for the discovery of radioactivity.
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