Q.

Which of the following ions is the strongest oxidizing agent

(Atomic Number of Ce = 58, Eu = 63, Tb = 65, Lu = 71)                    [2025]

1 Lu3+  
2 Ce3+  
3 Eu2+  
4 Tb4+  

Ans.

(4)

+3 is common oxidation states of lanthanoids. Tb4+ has thus a tendency to get reduced to Tb3+ and is an oxidizing agent.