Chapter 8

Question 1

1. How can the actinides be synthesized?

Answer 1

Question 2

2. Why is it difficult to study the chemical properties of the actinides?

Answer 2

Question 3

3. Explain relativistic effects in the actinide series. What consequences do relativistic effects have on the properties of the actinides?

Answer 3

Question 4

4. Why are the earlier actinides more similar to the d-block transition metals and the heavier actinides more similar to the lanthanides? How are these similiarities reflected in the oxidation states of the actinides?
5. Describe the electronic configurations of the actinides.

Answer 4

Question 5

6. What trends can be observed in the reduction potentials of the actinides?

Answer 5

Question 6

7. What is the structure of the uranyl ion? Explain its structure in terms of chemical bonding.

Answer 6