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What is lanthanoid contraction? What are the consequences of lanthanoid contraction?

Updated On: Sep 29, 2023
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Solution and Explanation

As we move along the lanthanoid series, the atomic number increases gradually by one. This means that the number of electrons and protons present in an atom also increases by one. As electrons are being added to the same shell, the effective nuclear charge increases. This happens because the increase in nuclear attraction due to the addition of proton is more pronounced than the increase in the interelectronic repulsions due to the addition of electron. Also, with the increase in atomic number, the number of electrons in the 4f orbital also increases. The 4f electrons have poor shielding effect. Therefore, the effective nuclear charge experienced by the outer electrons increases. Consequently, the attraction of the nucleus for the outermost electrons increases. This results in a steady decrease in the size of lanthanoids with the increase in the atomic number. This is termed as lanthanoid contraction.

Consequences of lanthanoid contraction 
(i) There is similarity in the properties of second and third transition series. 
(ii) Separation of lanthanoids is possible due to lanthanide contraction. 
(iii) It is due to lanthanide contraction that there is variation in the basic strength of lanthanide hydroxides. (Basic 
strength decreases from La(OH)3 to Lu(OH)3.)

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Concepts Used:

Lanthanoids

Lanthanoids are at the top of these two-row, while actinoids are at the bottom row.

Properties of Lanthanoids

Lanthanoids are inclusive of 14 elements, with atomic numbers 58-71:

  • Cerium - Xe 4f1 5d1 6s2
  • Praseodymium - Xe 4f3 6s2
  • Neodymium - Xe 4f4 6s2
  • Promethium - Xe 4f5 6s2
  • Samarium - Xe 4f6 6s2
  • Europium - Xe 4f7 6s2
  • Gadolinium - Xe 4f7 5d1 6s2
  • Terbium - Xe 4f9 6s2
  • Dysprosium - Xe 4f10 6s2
  • Holmium - Xe 4f11 6s2
  • Erbium - Xe 4f12 6s2
  • Thulium - Xe 4f13 6s2
  • Ytterbium - Xe 4f14 6s2
  • Lutetium - Xe 4f14 5d1 6s2

These elements are also called rare earth elements. They are found naturally on the earth, and they're all radioactively stable except promethium, which is radioactive. A trend is one of the interesting properties of the lanthanoid elements, called lanthanide contraction.