lanthanide contraction

noun

the progressive decrease in the radii of atoms of the lanthanide elements as the atomic number increases; evident in various physical properties of the elements and their compounds

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Meanings

nounlanthanide contraction (plural lanthanide contractions)

plural lanthanide contractions

  1. chemistrythe progressive decrease in the radii of atoms of the lanthanide elements as the atomic number increases; evident in various physical properties of the elements and their compounds
Cite this entry
APA

lanthanide contraction. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lanthanide%20contraction

MLA

“lanthanide contraction.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lanthanide%20contraction. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lanthanide contraction,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lanthanide%20contraction.

Source: lanthanide contraction on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.