JEE Main 2009 Chemistry question

Knowing that the Chemistry of lanthanoids (Ln) is dominated by its +3 oxidation state, which of the following statements in incorrect?

(1)Because of the large size of the Ln (III) ions the bonding in its compounds is predominantly ionic in character.
(2)The ionic sizes of Ln (III) decrease in general with increasing atomic number.
(3)Ln (III) compounds are generally colourless.Correct
(4)Ln (III) hydroxides are mainly basic in character.

Answer: (3)

Solution

Most Ln(III) ions have partly filled 4f orbitals and their compounds are coloured (f–f transitions), so

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Question ID VK-039161