LANTHANOIDS AND ACTINOIDS
1.What is lanthanoid contraction ? What is the reason and consequences of lanthanoid contraction ?
Ans : Regular decrease in the atomic and ionic radii of lanthanoids with increasing atomic number is called lanthanoid
contraction . Reason : poor shielding effect of 4f electrons .
Consequences : (i) Similarity in size of elements belonging to same group of second and third transition series , example Hf
and Zr .
(ii) Difficulty in separation of lanthanoids due to similar chemical properties.
(iii) Decrease in the basic strength of hydroxide from La3+ to Lu3+ , thus La(OH)3 is most basic whereas Lu(OH)3 .
2.Give reason for the following :
(i) Europium (II) is more stable than cerium (II).
(ii) Actinoids ions are generally coloured .
(iii) Actinoids contraction is greater from element to element than lanthanoid contraction.
(iv) Which out of the two , La(OH)3 and Lu(OH)3 , more basic and why ?
(v) Lanthanoids are paramagnetic in nature ?
(vi) Why is separation of lanthanoids difficult ?
(vii) Eu2+ is a strong reducing agent .
(viii) Ce4+ or Tb4+ is a strong oxidizing agent .
(ix) La3+ (Z=57) and Lu3 (Z=71) do not show any colour in the solutions .
(x) Sm2+ , Eu2+ and Yb2+ ions are good reducing agents in solution
Ans : (i) Eu (II) = 4f7 , half filled stable configuration ,therefore it is more stable .
(ii) Unpaired electrons are present in their ions which undergo f – f transition .
(iii) due to poor shielding effect of 5f than 4f electrons .
(iv) La(OH)3 is more basic than Lu(OH)3 . As the size of lanthanoid ion decreases from La3+ to Lu3+ , covalent character of
hydroxide increases . Hence, basic strength decreases.
(v)All lanthanoids except La3+ and Lu3 contain unpaired electrons and hence are paramagnetic .
(vi) Due to lanthanoid contraction they have similar atomic and ionic radii and hence similar chemical properties .
(vii) Eu2+ can lose electron to form more stable Eu3+ .
(viii) Ce4+ or Tb4+ can easily gain one electron to form more stable +3 oxidation state .
(ix) La3+ (Z=57) has empty 4f0 orbital and Lu3 (Z=71) has fully filled 4f14 orbital and therefore f – f transition is not possible .
(x) Sm2+ , Eu2+ and Yb2+ can easily loose one electron to form more stable +3 oxidation state .
3.The Actinoids contraction differs from lanthanoid contraction ? Explain .
Ans : Actinoids contraction is greater from element to element than lanthanoid contraction , due to poor shielding effect
of 5f than 4f electrons .
4. The + 3 oxidation state of lanthanum (Z = 57 ), gadolinium (Z =64 ) and lutetium ( Z= 71 ) are especially stable . Why ?
Ans : In the +3 oxidation state , they have empty , half – filled and completely filled 4f sub – shell respectively .
5. Why Zr and Hf or Nb and Ta exhibit similar properties ? OR Zirconium ( atomic number 40 ) and Hafnium ( atomic
number 72 ) occur together in minerals and they exhibit similar properties . Give reasons .
Ans : Due lanthanoid contraction Hf has size similar to Zr . Hence , their properties are similar and therefore occur
together . For the same reason Nb and Ta have similar size and hence similar properties .
6. One among the lanthanoids , Ce (III) , can be easily oxidized to Ce (IV) . Explain why ?
OR Of the lanthanoids , cerium forms a tetrapositive ion Ce4+ in aqueous solution. Why ?
Ans : Ce (III) = 4f 5d0 6s0 , can easily loose an electron to acquire 4f0 configuration to form Ce (IV) .
1
7. Which is the most common oxidation state of lanthanoids ?
Ans : +3
8. What is the basic difference between the electronic configuration of transition and inner transition elements ?
Ans : In transition elements last electron enters d – orbitals of penultimate shell while in inner transition elements it
enters f – orbital of ante – penultimate shell .
9. Write the electronic configuration of Gadolinium (Z = 64 ) and its most stable oxidation state .
Ans : Gd = [xe] 4f7 5d1 6s2
10. There is a greater range of oxidation states among the actinoids than among the lanthanoids . Why ?
Ans : In actinoids there very small energy gap between 5f , 6d and 7s subshell . Hence , all their electrons can take part in
bond formation . In lanthanoids energy gap between 4f and 5d is large . Hence , all their electrons can not take part in
bond formation .
11. What is Misch metal ? Give its one use .
Ans : Alloy of lanthanoid which contain 95 % lanthanoid metal and 5 % iron along with traces of C , S , Ca , and Al . It is
used in Mg based to produce bullets , shells and lighter flints .
12. What is actinoid contraction ? What causes actinoid contraction ?
Ans : Regular decrease in the atomic and ionic radii of actinoid with increasing atomic number is called actinoid
contraction . Reason : poor shielding effect of 5f electrons
13. Why is chemistry of actinoids complicated as compared to lanthanoids ?
Ans : They show a wide range of oxidation states and are radioactive.
14. Actinoids show wide range of oxidation states . Why ?
Ans : In actinoids there very small energy gap between 5f , 6d and 7s subshell . Hence , all their electrons can take part in
bond formation
15. Name a member of the lanthanoid series which is well known to exhibit +2 oxidation state and + 4 oxidation state .
Ans : Eu2+ due to exactly half filled 4f7 configuration and Yb2+ due to completely filled 4f14 configuration .
Ce4+ due to 4f0 and Tb4+ due to 4f7 configuration .
16. Which compound is generally used in making optical glasses such as crooke’s lenses which protect eyes against UV
light ?
Ans : Lanthanum oxide ( La2O3 )
