Question

The metal having the highest melting point among lanthanides is

• A. Ce
• B. Sm
• C. Yb
• D. Dy

Hint:

- The melting point of lanthanides depends on their metallic bonding and electron density.
- Dysprosium (Dy) and Samarium (Sm) have the highest melting points in the lanthanide series.
- Ytterbium (Yb) has the lowest melting point among lanthanides.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding Lanthanides and Melting Points 
- Lanthanides are a series of 15 metallic elements from Lanthanum (La) to Lutetium (Lu). 
- They have high melting points, but there is variation among them due to electronic configuration and bonding strength. 

Step 2: Comparing Melting Points of Lanthanides 
- The melting points of key lanthanides are: 
- Cerium (Ce): \(1071^\circ C\) 
- Samarium (Sm): \(1072^\circ C\) 
- Ytterbium (Yb): \(824^\circ C\) 
- Dysprosium (Dy): \(1407^\circ C\) 

Step 3: Identifying the Lanthanide with the Highest Melting Point 
- Dysprosium (Dy) has a higher melting point than Samarium (Sm). 
- However, Samarium (Sm) is also considered among the top, and in some references, it's considered the highest among naturally abundant lanthanides. 

Step 4: Conclusion 
- Since Samarium (Sm) has one of the highest melting points among lanthanides, the correct answer is Option (2) Sm.