Question:
The second and third rows of transition elements resemble each other much more than they resemble the first row. Explain why?
Solution:
Due to poor f orbital shielding, effective nuclear charge increases and there is a contraction in the size of the third-row elements. This contraction in size is called
Lanthanide contraction. The second and third row of transition elements have similar atomic radii and therefore they resemble each other more.