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Although +3 oxidation states are the characteristic oxidation state of lanthanoids cerium shows +4 oxidation state also. Why?

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Lanthanoids generally lose 3 electrons from 5d^{1}6s^{2}  to exhibit +3 oxidation state. However, Cerium has a configuration 4f^{1}5d^{1}6s^{2} , and gains additional stability by losing 4f^{1}  electrons as well. It is the case because on losing 4 electrons it has only completely filled orbitals

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