Lanthanoids closely resemble each other more than ordinary transition elements in any series. They exhibit only one stable oxidation state, providing an excellent opportunity to examine the impact of small changes in size and nuclear charge along the series.
How do lanthanoids differ from ordinary transition elements, and why is their chemistry an excellent opportunity to study the effects of small changes in size and nuclear charge?
Share
Lanthanoids, or lanthanides, differ from ordinary transition elements due to their electron configurations that involve filling 4f orbitals. Unlike ordinary transition metals, they exhibit similar chemical properties due to the shielding effect of the filled 4f orbitals, making small changes in size and nuclear charge more prominent in their chemistry. The lanthanoid contraction, caused by poor shielding of outer electrons, results in similar sizes for consecutive lanthanoids. This unique characteristic provides an excellent opportunity to study the effects of small changes in size and nuclear charge, allowing researchers to investigate the intricate relationships between electronic structure, reactivity, and physical properties in these elements.