Inner transition Elements
The lanthanoid contraction is a feature of f block elements in which overall decrease in atomic radii from lanthanum to lutetium is observed. The decrease in atomic radii is not quite regular as it is regular in M3+ ions. This is because of imperfect shielding of one electron by another in the same subshell. The shielding of one 4f electron by another is less than one d electron by another with the increase in nuclear charge along the series. In the lanthanoid La(II) and Ln(III) are predominant species. Occasionally +2 and +4 ions in solution or in solid compounds are obtained. The formation of CeIV is favored by its noble gas configuration but it acts like a strong oxidising agent reverting to the common +3 state. The E0 value for CeIV/CeIII is +1.74 V which refer that it can oxidise water. The Pr, Nd, Tb and Dy show +4 state in oxides only. Eu2+ is a strong reducing agent changing to the common +3 state. Actinoids include 14 elements from Th to Lr. There is gradual decrease in size of atoms or M3+ ions in series and referred as actinoid contraction. The contraction is greater from element to element in this series resulting from poor shielding by 5f electrons.
Actinoid showing highest oxidation state of +7 is.......
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Np
Actinoids show a wider range of oxidation states than lanthanoids because the 5f, 6d and 7s orbitals have comparable energies, so a variable number of electrons can be used in bonding. The common state is +3. In the first half of the series the maximum state rises and then falls:
Th +4, Pa +5, U +6, Np +7, Pu +7, then decreasing; the later actinoids show mainly +3.
So the actinoid showing the highest oxidation state of +7 is Np (neptunium).
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Oxidation States

| Ac | Th | Pa | U | Np | Pu | Am | Cm | Bk | Cf | Es | Fm | Md | No | Lr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | ||||||||||
| 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | |||||||||||
| 7 | 7 |