Question:easy

Lanthanide contraction is observed in —

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The word lanthanide itself tells you the block; lanthanides are inner-transition elements filling the 4f subshell.
Updated On: Jul 10, 2026
  • s-block element
  • p-block element
  • d-block element
  • f-block element
Show Solution

The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: The very name of the effect points to the answer. It is called lanthanide contraction, and the lanthanides (\(_{57}\)La to \(_{71}\)Lu) form the first row of the inner-transition series.
Step 2: Inner-transition elements are placed in the f-block of the periodic table because their differentiating electron occupies an \(f\) orbital.
Step 3: Poor screening by \(4f\) electrons makes each successive nucleus grip its electrons a little tighter, so the radius shrinks smoothly across the series. This shrinking is exactly the lanthanide contraction.
Step 4: Since the phenomenon is defined for and observed in the f-block inner-transition elements, option (iv) is correct.
\[\boxed{\text{f-block element}}\]
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