Question

Why Zr has smaller atomic size than Hf??​

Answer 1

Due to poor shielding of f-subshell, the attraction of nucleus on outer shell electrons increases and thus the size of Hf decreases and size of Zr and Hf becomes almost the same. This is the reason why both of them have similar properties.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Zr and Hf belong to the fifth and sixth period respectively of group 4 in the modern periodic table. Even after the addition of a new shell in Hf, the atomic radius of Zr is almost the same as that of Hf because of lanthanoid contraction.

Explanation:

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