Which of the following acts as a strong reducing agent? (Atomic number: Ce = 58, Eu = 63, Gd = 64, Lu = 71)

Question

Canvas Classes · Accepted Answer

Concept: Reducing agents in lanthanoids

A species acts as a reducing agent if it readily loses electrons (gets oxidised).

Analysis:

| Species | Config | Tendency | Role |
|---------|--------|----------|------|
|  |  | Fully filled — very stable | Neither |
|  |  | Half-filled — very stable | Neither |
|  |  | Wants to reach  (half-filled) by losing e⁻ →  | Strong reducing agent ✓ |
|  |  | Wants to gain e⁻ →  () | Strong oxidising agent |

() is a strong reducing agent because it readily los

More questions from D & F Block