3. F-BLOCK ELEMENTS What are f-block elements? Ans: Elements in which the last electron comes to the f subshell is called f-block elements. It includes both lanthan and Actinoids. What are lanthanoids or lanthanides or lanthanones? Ans: The 14 elements coming after ‘Lanthanum’ (seLa) of the 6" p lanthanoids or lanthanones, because they closely resemble La. - They include elements from saCe to z:Lu.(Cerium to lutetium) What are actinides or actinoids or actinones? Ans: The 14 elements coming after Actinium ( Ac, Z=89) in the 7" period of modern periodic table are called actinides or actinoids or actinones, because they closely resemble Actinium. - They include elements from Thorium to Lawrencium. (Th to sosLr) What is the general configuration of f-block elements? ‘The have a general configuration of ns? (n-1)d°" (n-2y et '* For lanthanides itis - [Xe] 6s? Sd°* 4f** (4f subshell is gradually filled.) For Actinides itis - [Rn] 7s* 6d°* sf ** (Sf subshell is gradually filled.) Why f-block elements (i.e., Lanthanides and Actinides) are called inner-transition elements? Ans: In f-block elements, the last electron is enters into the antipenultimate (n -2) f subshell (inner shell). - For lanthanides the outermost shell is 6s but the last electron is coming to 4f. - For actinides the outermost shell is 7s, but the last electron is coming to 5f subshell. Why lanthanoids are called rare earth elements? Ans: Because the elements in lanthanide series are very rarely seen in the earth. What are trans — uranium elements? Ans: Most of the elements in actinides are artificially prepared and are short lived. They are radioactive. The elements after uranium is artificially prepared and so they are called trans-uranium or trans-uranic elements Define lanthanoid contraction? Ans: The slow and steady decrease of atomic and ionic radii among the lanthanide series is called lanthanide contraction. It results from the diffused shape and poor shielding effect of the 4f subshell.9. Define actinoid contraction? Ans: The slow and steady decrease of atomic and ionic radii among the actinide series (from left to right) is called lanthanide contraction. It results from the diffused shape and poor shielding effect of the Sf subshell. 10. Actinoid contraction is greater than lanthanoid contraction. Why? Ans: This is due to the poor shielding effect of 5f electrons in actinoids than by the 4f electrons i lanthanoids. 11. Comment on the oxidation states of lanthanoids? Ans: +2, +3, +4 are the different oxidation states exhibited by lanthanides, in which the +3 oxidation state is the more common oxidation state. 12. Name the only member of lanthanoid series which is known to exhibit +4 oxidation state? Ans: Cerium, Ce( Z=58) exhibit +4 oxidation state. 13. Name the lanthanoid element which exhibit +4 oxidation state beside +3. Ans: Cerium. 14. Comment on the oxidation states of actinoids? Ans: +3 is the common oxidation state besides that some elements also exhibit +4, +5, +6, +7. (The maximium oxidation state shown by actinoids are +7) 15. Which is the only radioactive element in lanthanides? Ans: Promethium. 16. What are the consequences of lanthanoid contraction? Ans: i) Due to lanthanoid contraction the 2™ and 3" row transition series elements have similar radii. (4d and Sdiseries) &g: Zr- 160 pm Hf 159 pm ii) Lanthanides have similar physical properties and they occur together in nature. So their isolation is difficult. ill) The basic character of their hydroxides decreases from lanthanum to lutetium, .e., La(OH)sis more basic than Lu(OH)s 17. Give reasor La(OH)is a stronger base than Lu(OH) or Basicity decrease from La(OH); to Lu(OH);.Why?Ans: This is due to lanthanide contraction. As the size of the lanthanide ions decreases from La*’ to Lu, the covalent character of hydroxides increases with decrease in size and hence basic strength decreases. Therefore —_La(OH)s is most basic. Lu(OH); is least basic. 18, Give reason. Zr (2=40) and Hf (2=72) have almost identical radii Zirconium and Hafnium have similar size even though Hf is one row down than Zr. Zr and Hf have similar properties. Zr and Hf is difficult to separate. The second (4d) and third (5d) transition series have same properties. Ans: It is due to lanthanoid contraction. They have almost similar physical properties that makes their separation difficult. , therefore they exhibit similar 19. Why actinoids shows higher oxidation state than lanthanoids? Ans: Its because in actinoids the energy gap between 7s, 6d and Sf is very small, where as in lanthanoids the energy gap between 65, Sd, and 4f is comparatively high. 20. Most of the trivalent ions of lanthanides (Ln*') are coloured. Why? Ans: This is because of f electrons and partially filled ‘f’ subshell; they will absorb visible light and undergo f-f transition. 21. Most of the trivalent lanthanides are colored except La” and Lu” Why? Or La** and Lu* ions are colorless. Why? Ans: ha: [ke] 6s? Sd? af? , no 'f'electrons , Lat Dee) af. . no f-ftransition. qalu: [Xe] 6s? 4f4 Sd* Lu [Xe] aFt# Completely filled 'f subshell. .” . no f-f transition. tons with f° and f™ configuration will not show colour. (no f-f transition possible)sla: [Xe] 6s? Sd? sgCe_ : We will expect [Xe] 6s’ Sd’, but it is, : [Xe] 6s? Sd? 4f* (Last electron coming to f subshell, hence f block element) sae : [Xe] 6s? Sd? 4 >< expected soPr sePr_: [Xe] 6s? 4 = / Actual ctu : [Xe] 652497 | Highly stable due to half fill {Europium) configuration.(f”) eGd : Expected configuration [Xe] 6s? 4f? } To get extra stablity of the half filled configuration. ‘Actual - [Xe] 6s? af? Sd? vb : [ke] 6st ar | 70¥b : [xe] Completely filled configuration, Hence highly stable. ( Ytterbium ) zalu: [Xe] 6s? af sd? ] highly stable. “Both ytterbium and Lutetium has completely filled “f” subshell results in their extra stability. 22. Write down the electronic configuration of s«Gd. esGd : Expected configuration [Xe] 6s? af? ‘Actual - [Xe] 65° 447Sd* ]} To get extra stablity of the half filled configuration. 23. g3Eu, 0Yb, 7Lu are highly stable among lanthanides. Why?asEu : [Xe] 65247 | Highly stable due to half filled (Europium) configuration.(f?) zo¥b : [ke] 62 ae | (vterbium ) Completely filled configuration, Hence highly stable. 24. Most of the trivalent lanthanide ions are paramagnetic, where as La”’and Lu” is diamagnetic.Why? Ans: Most of the trivalent lanthanide ions (Ln** Jare paramagnetic because of the presence of unpaired electrons. Where as La? : [Xe] AF, [ ss : [ke] 6s? Sd* «| LuP* [Xe] af Ec [Xe] 6s? 4f** Sd ‘| They have 4f’ and 4f" configuration,therefore it is diamagnetic.(No unpaired electron) 25. Give reason: Yb” and Ce** are diamagnetic. Ans: 7b : [Xe] 6s*4F“*,Yb** : [Xe] af ** seCe : [Xe] 6s’ 5d? af? , Ce: [Xe] 4F° Yb" have 4f “(completely filled) and Ce" has 4f° (no f electrons), Therefore they are diamagnetic. 26. Calculate the spin magnetic moment of Ce** ion. ‘Ans seCe : [Xe] 6s? Sd! 4g" Ce* : [Xe] 4f number of unpaired electron = 1 Therefore spin magneticmoment, p= Vn(n +2) =V1(1+ 2) = V3 =1.738M 27. Among the lanthanoids ,Ce (II is easily oxidised to Ce(IV)..ce —> Ce te [Xel 4f 65°5sd? [Xe] 4f? 65° Sa? Ce(IV) has extra stability due to empty ‘f’ orbital.