Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
The radius of is and that of is . Find the ionic potential (charge divided by radius) of each ion in charges per nanometre. By what percentage does it rise from Sm to Yb? Say which hydroxide, or , is the weaker base.
Going down a group adds a shell, and the radius rises. Between La and Hf, 14 electrons enter the 4f subshell, which shields badly. The effective charge on the outer electrons rises by about at each step, and the ions shrink: . The ionic potential is charge divided by radius. A larger value means a stronger pull on and a weaker base.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. Sm. , so .
Step 2. Yb. , so .
Step 3. The rise. (using the unrounded values, and ).
Step 4. The base. The higher ionic potential belongs to . It pulls the electrons of the oxygen harder, the Yb-O bond is more covalent, and is given up less readily. So is the weaker base.
Answer: and charges per nanometre, a rise of . is the weaker base.
Check. The trend runs the same way as the radius, which falls steadily from La to Lu.
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