d and f block elements

01. Give reasons :

i) actinoids show variable oxidation states
This is due to comparable energy of between 5f 6d and 7s orbitals
ii) Zr and Hf have almost identical radii
this is due to lanthanoid contraction
2. What is lanthanoid contraction? Write the consequences of lanthanoid
contraction.
Steady decrease in atomic size with increase in atomic number is called lanthanoid
contraction.
Reason; poor shielding of 4f electrons
Consequences;
i) Radii of elements of third transition series are very much similar to that of elements
of second transition series.
ii) Elements of third transition series have high density.
iii) Basic strength of hydroxides of lanthanoids decreases.
3. What is the formula of the products formed when a Lanthanoid (Ln)
reacts with i) halogen (X) ii) nitrogen ?
Ans;

2Ln + 3X2→ 2LnX3 2Ln + 3N2→ 2LnN3

04. Give reasons :
i) Element cerium (Ce) exhibits +4 oxidation state.
Ans; Ce+4 ion is more stable due to stable inert gas configuration i.e, [Rn] 5f0
ii) Actinoid contraction is greater from element to element than lanthanoid
contraction.
Ans; Because very poor shielding of 5f electrons than 4f electrons
05. Explain why Ce4+ is a good oxidizing agent while Eu2+ is good reducing agent in
aqueous solution.
Ans; Ce+4 is a good oxidizing agent in aqueous solution because Ce+4 easily changes into
stable Ce3+ by undergoing reduction.
Eu+2is a good reducing agent in aqueous solution because Eu+2 easily changes into stable
Eu+3 by undergoing oxidation.
06. How do lanthanoids react with water ? Give equation.
Lanthanoids react with water to form hydroxides and hydrogen.
2Ln + 6H2O → 2Ln (OH)3 + 3H2
11. Give any two difference between lanthanoids and actinoids.
Lanthanoids Actinoids
1. except Promethium, all are non- 1. All are radio active
radio active
2. they do not form complexes 2. they have greater tendency to
easily form complexes
3. their compounds are less basic 3. their compounds are more basic

4. they do not form oxocations 4. they form oxocations

5. less reactive 5. more reactive

 6. oxidation number is +3 6. oxidation number +2,+3 +4 +5
+6 +7

12. a) What is actinide contraction ? give reason

The steady decrease in atomic radius and ionic radius of actinoids with increase in
atomic number is called actinoid contraction.
This is due to poor shielding of 5f electrons.
13. Which is the common oxidation state exhibited by actinoides ?
+3 state
14. What are misch metals?
It is an alloy of lanthanoid which consist of lanthanoid metal (95%),5% iron and traces
of S, C ,Ca and Al.
15. Name a member of lanthanoid series which is well known to exhibit +4 oxidation
state.
Ans; Cerium
16. What are coinage metals?
The elements like Cu , Ag and Au that are used to minting coins.
17. Most important reactions of f block elements
Lanthanides are quite reactive.
a) On heating, lanthanoids react with oxygen to form oxides.
4Ln + 3O2→ 2Ln2O3
b) On heating, lanthanoids react with hydrogen to form hydrides.
2Ln + 3H2→ 2LnH3
c) On heating, lanthanoids react with nitrogen to form nitrides.
2Ln + 3N2→ 2LnN3
d) Lanthanoids react with water to form hydroxides and hydrogen.
2Ln + 6H2O → 2Ln (OH)3 + 3H2
e) Lanthanoids react with dilute acids to form salts and hydrogen
2Ln + 6HCl → 2LnCl3+ 3H2
THREE MARKS QUESTIONS
01. Name the metal of the 1st row transition series that
i) has maximum number of unpaired electrons in its ground state.
Ans; chromium
ii) has zero spin only magnetic moment in its +2 oxidation state.
Ans; Zinc
iii) exhibits maximum number of oxidation states.
Ans; Manganese
02. Write ionic equations for the reaction of dichromate ions with
i) hydroxyl ions ii) Fe+2 ions in acidic medium
In which one of the above two reactions will the oxidation number of
chromium remains unchanged?
Ans; i ) K2Cr2O7 +OH-1→ K2CrO4 + H2O
ii )
Cr2O7-2 + 14H+ + 6Fe+2 2Cr+3 + 7H2O + 6Fe+3 (Ionic equation)
in the first reaction oxidation number of chromium remain unchanged
03. a) What are interstitial compounds ? Write their characteristics.
The substances in which the atoms like H, B, C and N are trapped in the voids of transition
 metal lattices are called interstitial compounds.
Eg : TiC, Mn4C, Fe3H, TiH2 etc.

Characteristics of interstitial compounds:

1) These are non-stoichiometric without any definite formula.

2) The chemical properties of these compounds are similar to those of parent metals but
they differ in their physical properties such as hardness and density.
3) The M.PS. of these compounds are higher than that of the parent metals.
4) The conductivity of these compounds are similar to that of parent metals.
b) Out of the following elements, identify the element which does not exhibit
variable oxidation state : Cr, Co, Zn.
Ans; zinc
04. a) What is the gas liberated when
i) crystals of potassium permanganate is heated to 513 K ?
Ans; oxygen
05. Give reason :
i) Most of the transition metals have high melting point and boiling point.
Ans: due to strong metallic bonding
ii) 2nd ionization enthalpy of Cu is exceptionally high.
Due to stable d10 configuration
iii) atomic size of 4d and 5d series elements are almost the same.
Due to lanthanoid contraction
06. What is the composition of chromite ore ?
FeCrO4
07. a) Transition metals and their compounds are used as catalysts. Give two
reasons.
*Ability to exhibit in variable oxidation state
*Ability to form stable intermediate compound with reactants
b) Write the outer electronic configuration of chromium (atomic no. = 24)
3d54s1
08. How is potassium permanganate prepared ? Give equations.
Pyrulosite is fused with KOH in the presence of air. Potassium manganate is obtained.
2MnO2 + 4KOH + O2→ 2K2MnO4 + 2H2O
The fused mass is stirred with water to dissolve potassium manganate. The solution is
filtered and acidified to get potassium permanganate.
3K2MnO4 + 2H2SO4→ 2KMnO4 + 2K2SO4 + MnO2 + 2H2O

09. a) Why zinc salts are colourless whereas nickel salts are coloured ?
Ans; Due to absence of unpaired electron zinc salts are colourless due to presense of unpaired
electron nickel salts are coloured
b) Transition metals form a large number of complex compounds. Give reasons.
Ans; *Due to small size and high nuclear charge
*Presense vacant d orbitals in their valence shell
11. Write the chemical equations involved in the manufacture of potassium
dichromate from chromite ore.
Chromite ore (FeO Cr2O3 or FeCr2O4) is powdered and concentrated by levigation.
The concentrated ore is mixed with soda ash (Na2CO3) and lime (CaO). Lime keeps
the mass porous and makes oxidation of the ore easy. The mixture is then roasted in excess
of air. A yellow mass containing sodium chromate is obtained.
 4FeCr2O4 + 8Na2CO3 +7O2 8Na2CrO4 + 2Fe2O3 + 8CO2
From the roasted mass, sodium chromate is extracted with water.
The solution of sodium chromate is acidified with sulphuric acid to get sodium dichromate.
2Na2CrO4 + H2SO4→ Na2Cr2O7 + Na2SO4 + H2O

The solution is concentrated and cooled. Sodium sulphate crystalises out leaving behind the
solution of sodium dichromate.
12. i) Why do 3d-series elements exhibit variable oxidation states ?
Due to comparable energy of 3d,and 4s orbitals
ii) Explain why transition metal ions are coloured.
The colour of metal ions is due to the presence of unpaired d-electrons. In the presence
of anions or molecules, the d-subshell of the metal ion splits into two sets of orbitals. When
visible light falls on the metal ion, the unpaired d-electrons present in lower orbitals absorb
certain radiations of visible light and jump into the higher orbitals of the same d-subshell.
The remaining visible light is transmitted in the form of a colour.
13. a) Zinc family are not considered as d-block elements. Why ?
Ans; Because due to absence of partially filled d orbitals
b) Copper (I) compounds are colourless where as Copper (II) compounds are
coloured.Why ?
Reason: In Cu (I) compounds, Cu+ ion (Cuprous ion) does not contain any unpaired
d-electron and therefore it is colourless. Also it does not contain any unpaired
electron and therefore it is diamagnetic.
In Cu(II) compounds, Cu+2 ion (Cupric ion) contains one unpaired d-electron and
therefore it is coloured and also paramagnetic.
15. a) Give an example for the compound of Manganese where Manganese shows
+7 oxidation state.
KMnO4
b) Calculate the magnetic moment of a divalent ion, M+2 in aqueous solution,
if the atomic number of M is 25.
Ans :  = n ( n + 2) Electronic configuration of M : [Ar]3d54s2
Electronic configuration of M+2 : [Ar]3d5
 = 5 ( 5 + 2)
= 5.92B.M. Number of unpaired electrons, n = 5
16. a) Among aqueous solutions of Cu and Zn+2, which one is coloured and why?
+2

Ans; Cu+2 is coloured because it contain unpaired electrons

b) Name the ferromagnetic element in the first transition series.
Ans; Fe, Co and Ni
17. With references to the first row transition series :
i) name the metal which possesses maximum number of oxidation states.
Ans; manganese
ii) among Zn+2 and Cu+2 which is colourless ?
Ans; Zn+2
iii) Between Ti+2 and V2+ which ion contains more number of unpaired electrons?
Ans; V2+
19. Give reason for the following:
Second ionization enthalpy of copper is very high.
Ans; Because when cu looses one electron it goes to stable d10 configuration