Directions: In the following questions, A statement of Assertion (A) ...
Cerium exhibits +4 oxidation state because Ce4+ has 4f0 electronic configuration which is most stable.
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Directions: In the following questions, A statement of Assertion (A) ...
Assertion (A): Cerium (Ce) exhibits 4 oxidation state.
Reason (R): Ce4+ has 4f4 electronic configuration which is less stable.
Explanation:
Assertion (A): Cerium (Ce) exhibits 4 oxidation state.
Explanation:
- Cerium is a chemical element with atomic number 58 and symbol Ce. It belongs to the lanthanide series of elements.
- In its ground state, cerium has an electronic configuration of [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2. The 4f orbital can accommodate a maximum of 14 electrons, but in the ground state of cerium, only one electron occupies the 4f orbital.
- Cerium can lose four electrons to achieve a stable octet configuration in its +4 oxidation state. This results in the formation of Ce4+ ions, which have a 4f0 electronic configuration.
- Therefore, cerium exhibits a 4+ oxidation state.
Reason (R): Ce4+ has 4f4 electronic configuration which is less stable.
Explanation:
- The reason provided is incorrect. Ce4+ ions do not have a 4f4 electronic configuration. In fact, Ce4+ ions have a 4f0 electronic configuration.
- The 4f orbitals in cerium are relatively higher in energy compared to the 5d and 6s orbitals. As a result, the 4f orbitals are shielded from the outer environment and do not participate in chemical bonding.
- When cerium loses four electrons to form Ce4+ ions, the 4f orbital remains empty. This empty 4f orbital contributes to the stability of the Ce4+ ion by reducing the repulsion between electrons.
- The empty 4f orbital also allows the Ce4+ ion to achieve a stable configuration similar to the noble gas xenon, which has a completely filled 4f orbital.
- Therefore, the stability of the Ce4+ ion is not due to its 4f4 electronic configuration, but rather due to the empty 4f orbital and the achievement of a stable electron configuration.
Conclusion:
- The assertion (A) is true, as cerium exhibits a 4+ oxidation state.
- However, the reason (R) is false, as Ce4+ ions have a 4f0 electronic configuration, not a 4f4 electronic configuration.
- Therefore, the correct answer is option 'c' - A is true, but R is false.