Assertion A: 5f electrons can participate in bonding to a far greater extent than 4f electrons.

Reason R: 5f orbitals are not as buried as 4f orbitals.

Choose the correct answer:

Question

Assertion A: 5f electrons can participate in bonding to a far greater extent than 4f electrons.

Reason R: 5f orbitals are not as buried as 4f orbitals.

Choose the correct answer:

Canvas Classes · Accepted Answer

Assertion A — True: Actinide (5f) elements show greater covalent bonding than lanthanides (4f) because 5f electrons are more accessible.

Reason R — True: 4f orbitals are deeply buried within the electron cloud (shielded by outer electrons), while 5f orbitals extend further from the nucleus and are less shielded — they are "not as buried."

R correctly explains A: Because 5f orbitals are less buried (more spatially extended), they can overlap with ligand orbitals and participate in bonding more

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