Question

The lanthanide contraction is responsible for the fact that

• A. Zr and Y have about the same radius
• B. Zr and Nb have similar oxidation state
• C. Zr and Hf have about the same radius
• D. Zr and Zn have same oxidation state.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Zr and Hf have about the same radius

Answer 2

The atomic radii of the second and third transition series are almost the same. This phenomenon is associated with the intervention of the 4f orbitals which must be filled before the 5d series of elements begin. The filling of 4f before 5d orbital results in a regular decrease in atomic radii called Lanthanoid contraction which essentially compensates for the expected increase in atomic size with increasing atomic number. The net result of the lanthanoid contraction is that the second and the third d series exhibit similar radii (e.g., Zr 160 pm, Hf 159 pm).