seperation of lanthanide elements is difficult.Explain

  • In lanthanide series there is a regular decrease in atomic and ionic radii with increase in atomic number.
  • This steady but small decrease in the sizes of atoms or ions of lanthanide is called as Lanthanide contraction.
  • Lanthanide ​are difficult to separate because of their almost similar sizes (due to lanthanide contraction.)

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lanthanides have similar physical and chemical properties and hence they are difficult to separate. however they can be separated by converting them into their respective halides and then separating them using grahams law of diffusion.
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