1. Eu2+ is a strong reducing agent.
Electronic configuration of Eu2+ = 4f7 6s2.
On oxidation, the shifting of the electrons takes place.
In +2 oxidation state its configuration is [Xe]4f75d16s0
In +3 oxidation state its electronic configuration is [Xe]4f75d06s0.
The outermost shell is half filled which makes Eu3+ highly stable. Eu2+ oxidises readily to give
more stable Eu3+ and acts as a strong reducing agent.
Hence, after the removal of 2 electrons it achieves stable half - filled electronic configuration
acting as a strong reducing agent.
2. Actinoids show irregularities in their electronic configuration.
Actinoids show irregularities in their electronic configurations because the energy differences
between 5f, 6d and 7s subshells are very small; hence, an electron can be occupied in any of the
subshells. They have the electronic configuration of 7s2 with variation of occupancy in 5f and 6d
orbitals.
3. Name an element of lanthanoid series which is well known to shown +4 oxidation
state. Is it a strong oxidising agent or reducing agent?
(or)
4+
Ce is a strong oxidising agent.
(or)
Name a member of the lanthanoid series which is well known to exhibit +4 oxidation
state.
Electronic configuration of Ce is 4f15d1 6s2
Ce is most stable in +3 state. In +4 state it is most oxidizing because in +4 state it can give an
electron to become more stable at +3 state.
Whereas in Sm2+ , the lanthanides are more stable in +3 state and hence in +2 state it gets
oxidized easily (good reducing agent) to get to +3 oxidation state.
4. What is the general electronic configuration of lanthanoids and actinoids?
The general electronic configuration of lanthanoids = 4f1-14 5d0-1 6s2.
The general electronic configuration of actinoids = 5f1-14 6d0-1 7s2.
5. What are the common oxidation states of Cerium (At. no. 58)?
The most common oxidation states of cerium are: +2 and +4.
6. Why do actinoids show a wide range of oxidation states?
Due to comparable energy of 5f, 6d and 7s orbitals actinoids show variable oxidation state.
7. Actinoid contraction is greater than lanthanides contraction.
The shielding effect of 5f orbitals is poorer than the shielding effect of 4f orbitals. Due to this, the
valence shell electrons of actinide experience greater effective nuclear charge than that
experienced by lanthanides. Hence, actinoid contraction is greater than lanthanoid contraction.
8. Name a member of the lanthanoid series which is well known to exhibit +2 oxidation
state.
Europium and Ytterbium having atomic no's 63 and 70 respectively shows +2 oxidation states
since their electronic configurations are:
Eu → [Xn] 4f76s2
Yb → [Xn] 4f146s2
So, after removal of 2e− s , half and fully filled configurations are attained. So, they show +2
oxidation states.
9. What is lanthanoid contraction? Name an important alloy which contains some of the
lanthanoid metals.
The steady decrease in the atomic and ionic radii (having the same charge) with increase in
atomic number as we move across the series from lanthanum to lutetium is known as lanthanoid
contraction.
An important alloy containing lanthanoids metals is mischmetal which contain 95% lanthanoid
metal an 5% iron along with traces of S, C, Ca and Al . It is used in Mg-based alloy to produced
bullets, shells and lighter fints.
10. Why is europium (II) more stable than cerium (II)?
Europium (II) has electronic configuration Eu2+ [X e] 4f7 5d while cerium (II) has electronic
configuration Ce2+ = [X e] 4f2 5d. In Eu2+, subshell is half filled and 5d- subshell is empty. Since
half - filled and completely filled electronic configuration are more stable, Eu 2+ ions is more
stable than Ce2+ in which neither 4f subshell nor 5d subshell is half filled or completely filled.
11. La3+ (Z = 57) and Lu3+ (Z = 71) do not show any colour in solutions.
La3+ ion has the configuration of Xe while Lu3+ ion [Xe]4f14 has completely filled orbitals and there
is no transition. Therefore, both these ions do not show any colour.
12. What are different oxidation states exhibit by lanthanides?
The common oxidation state of lanthanides is+3. However, Eu and Yb show the oxidation state
of +2 and Ce and Tb show the oxidation state of +4.
13. The members in the actinoid series exhibit a larger number of oxidation states than
the corresponding members in the lanthanoid series.
Actinides exhibit larger oxidation states than lanthanides, because of the very small energy gap
between 5f, 6d and 7s subshells. Thus, the outermost electrons get easily excited to the higher
energy levels, giving variable oxidation states.
14. The gradual in size (actinoid contraction) from element to element is greater among
the actinoids than that among the lanthanoids (lanthanoid contraction).
(or)
From element to element the actinoid contraction is greater than the lanthanoid
contraction.
Actinoid contraction is greater from element to element than lanthanoid contraction. The
reason behind this is the poor shielding effect of 5f in actinoids orbitals than 4f orbitals in
lanthanoids.
As a result, the effective nuclear charge experienced by valence electrons is more in actinoids
than lanthanoids elements.
