1.

Describe the cause of the following variations with respect to lanthanoids and actinoids: (i)  Greater range of oxidation states of actinoids as compared to lanthanoids.(ii)  Greater actinoid contraction as compared to lanthanoid contraction.(iii)  Lower ionisation enthalpy of early actinoids as compared to the early lanthanoids. 

Answer»

(i)  5f, 6d and 7s levels in actinoids are of comparable energies. 

(ii)  This is due to poorer shielding by 5f electrons in actinoids as compared to shielding by 4f electrons in lanthanoids.

(iii)  In actinoids, 5f electrons are more effectively shielded from the nuclear charge than the 4f electrons of the corresponding lanthanoids. Since the outer electrons are less firmly held, they are available for bonding in the actinoids.



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