i) This is because each time a new electron enters a ‘d’ orbital the nuclear change increases by unity. The shielding effect of a ‘d’ electron is not that effective. Hence, the net electrostatic attraction between the nuclear charge and the outermost electron increases and the ionic radius decreases.

ii) The effect of addition of new shells in 4d series overtakes the effect of increase in nuclear charge.
Thus, electrostatic attraction between nucleus and valence electron decreases and hence atomic size increases.

iii) This phenomenon is due to the intervention of the 4f – orbitals which must be filled before the 5d series of elements begins. The filling of 4f before 5d – orbitals results in a regular decrease in atomic radii called Lanthanoid Contraction due to imperfect shielding of intervening 4f – orbital electrons which compensate for the expected increase in atomic size on moving down the group, with increasing atomic number. The net result of Lanthanoid Contraction is that the second and the third d series exhibit similar radii.