Cerium
Cerium shows +4 oxidation state because:
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- d- and f-block elements
- Topic
- cerium
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
All of these
Cerium (Ce) is a Lanthanide with configuration [Xe]4f15d16s2.
- Most lanthanides typically show +3 states. However, Cerium can also show a +4 state.
- Reason: By losing 4 electrons (1 from 4f, 1 from 5d, 2 from 6s), Ce4+ attains the electronic configuration of the noble gas Xenon (4f0). This 'noble gas' empty f-shell state provides extraordinary stability.
- Ce4+ is a widely used analytical reagent because it rapidly reverts to the common +3 state by acting as an oxidizing agent.
This medium difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter d- and f-block elements, covering the topic of cerium. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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