NEET UG · Chemistry · The d- and f-Block Elements

d- and f-Block Elements: NEET previous year questions

21 questions in ten years of NEET, in 10 of 10 papers. Pattern: Every year. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.

Asked in 10 years: 21; about 2.0 per paper
Years asked: 10/10; last asked 2026
Chance of a question next paper: 84%; historical rate, how we compute it
Weighted estimate: 2.2; model; history: 2.0 a paper on average, typically 2–3

Key findings

01
Asked in 10 of 10 papers, 21 questions in all: #8 of 204 topics by ten-year total.
02
68% of its questions since 2018 tested an idea never asked before; 3 repeated an idea from the year before.
03
The most repeated idea is Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ions, asked 7 times (2018, 2020, 2024, 2025, 2026), usually as “match list on magnetic moments of ions”.
04
NEET has asked 0 of the 15 ideas in this topic; 0 have never been asked, directly or indirectly.
05
Mostly asked as one-line MCQ (67%); 24% easy, 14% hard, and up from 1.8 to 2.6 questions a paper since 2024.

Questions per year

Up to 2023: 1.8; per paper
Since 2024: 2.6; +0.8
Usual gap: 1.0 yrs; between papers asking it
Swing: ±0.5; questions, year to year

Recent framings

identify product of thermal decomposition
assertion-reason on transition metals
count unpaired electrons in ion

Revise first

Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ions (2018 2020 2024 2025 2026); Preparation and Thermal Decomposition of KMnO4 (2026); Melting Points of Transition Metals (2026)

How it is asked

Difficulty, format and skill

Across all 21 questions on d- and f-Block Elements since 2017.

Difficulty

QUESTIONS

5133

Easy5 · 24%
Medium13 · 62%
Hard3 · 14%

Format

One-line MCQ · 14 Q67%
Match the lists · 2 Q10%
Other · 2 Q10%
Assertion–reason · 1 Q5%
Two statements · 1 Q5%
Numerical · 1 Q5%

Skill tested

Concept · 8 Q38%
Recall · 7 Q33%
Calculation · 3 Q14%
Application · 3 Q14%

Repeats

New idea, or one asked before?

Each column is a paper. Blue questions tested an idea NEET had not asked before; navy ones went back to an idea from an earlier paper. 2017 is the first paper, so everything in it counts as new.

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26

Idea asked for the first time
Idea asked in an earlier paper

Coverage of the topic

NEET has asked 0 of the 15 ideas in this topic. 0 have never been asked yet.

Asked directly0 · 0%
Touched inside another question15 · 100%
Never asked0 · 0%

Ideas come from Lumi’s syllabus map of NCERT. A never-asked idea is not a safe skip: most new questions come from exactly these.

Drill down

Idea, year, question

Every idea NEET tested in this topic, with its ten papers. Open one to read the questions.

ideaAskedShareYears’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26

Repeated7 · 33%33%5/1022
- 2026 · Q67
  The lanthanide ion having four unpaired electrons is (Given : Atomic numbers of Ce = 58, Nd = 60, Tb = 65 and Ho = 67)
  mediumOne-line MCQAsked the year before
- 2025 · Q71
  Given below are two statements : Statement I : Ferromagnetism is considered as an extreme form of paramagnetism. Statement II : The number…
  mediumTwo statementsAsked the year before
- 2024 · Q67
  'Spin only' magnetic moment is same for which of the following ions? A. Ti $^{3+}$ B. Cr $^{2+}$ C. Mn $^{2+}$ D. Fe $^{2+}$ E. Sc $^{3+}$ …
  mediumOther
- 2024 · Q94
  The pair of lanthanoid ions which are diamagnetic is
  hardOne-line MCQ
- 2020 · Q103
  The calculated spin only magnetic moment of $\mathrm{Cr^{2+}}$ ion is :
  easyNumerical
- 2018 · Q69
  Match the metal ions given in Column I with the spin magnetic moments of the ions given in Column II and assign the correct code : Column…
  mediumMatch the listsNew idea
- 2018 · Q70
  Which one of the following ions exhibits d-d transition and paramagnetism as well ?
  mediumOne-line MCQNew idea
Repeated2 · 10%10%2/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10
1 · 5%5%1/10

Squares are the ten papers, 2017 to 2026; darker means more questions. Share is of the level above.

Ideas

Every idea inside this topic

14 different ideas were tested; 2 came more than once.

Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ions7×
match list on magnetic moments of ions
One-line MCQ · 11% next
Ionisation and Hydration Enthalpy of Transition Metal Ions2×
reason for relative stability
One-line MCQ · 6% next
Melting Points of Transition Metals1×
assertion-reason on transition metals
Assertion–reason · 6% next
Preparation and Thermal Decomposition of KMnO41×
identify product of thermal decomposition
One-line MCQ · 6% next
Transition Metals as Catalysts1×
match list on catalysts and processes
Match the lists · 6% next
Trends in M3+/M2+ Electrode Potentials1×
reason for relative stability
One-line MCQ · 6% next
Oxides of Transition Metals1×
identify incorrect statements on d-block
Other · 4% next
KMnO4 in Different Media1×
oxidation number change in reaction
One-line MCQ · 4% next
Lanthanoid Contraction1×
identify reason for property similarity
One-line MCQ · 4% next
Properties of Lanthanoids and Actinoids1×
identify incorrect statement on f-block
One-line MCQ · 4% next
Cr(II) Reducing Power and Interstitial Compounds1×
identify incorrect statement on d-block
One-line MCQ · 4% next
Structures of Chromate, Dichromate, Manganate and Permanganate1×
reason for structure of ion
One-line MCQ · 4% next
Mercury(II) Halide Complexes1×
identify species formed in reaction
One-line MCQ · 4% next
Variable Oxidation States of Actinoids1×
reason for property of f-block elements
One-line MCQ · 4% next

Idea	Times	Format	Chance next	Foundation for
Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ionsmatch list on magnetic moments of ions	7	One-line MCQApplication	11%	–
Ionisation and Hydration Enthalpy of Transition Metal Ionsreason for relative stability	2	One-line MCQConcept	6%	–
Melting Points of Transition Metalsassertion-reason on transition metals	1	Assertion–reasonConcept	6%	–
Preparation and Thermal Decomposition of KMnO4identify product of thermal decomposition	1	One-line MCQRecall	6%	–
Transition Metals as Catalystsmatch list on catalysts and processes	1	Match the listsRecall	6%	–
Trends in M3+/M2+ Electrode Potentialsreason for relative stability	1	One-line MCQConcept	6%	–
Oxides of Transition Metalsidentify incorrect statements on d-block	1	OtherRecall	4%	–
KMnO4 in Different Mediaoxidation number change in reaction	1	One-line MCQRecall	4%	–
Lanthanoid Contractionidentify reason for property similarity	1	One-line MCQRecall	4%	–
Properties of Lanthanoids and Actinoidsidentify incorrect statement on f-block	1	One-line MCQRecall	4%	–
Cr(II) Reducing Power and Interstitial Compoundsidentify incorrect statement on d-block	1	One-line MCQConcept	4%	–
Structures of Chromate, Dichromate, Manganate and Permanganatereason for structure of ion	1	One-line MCQConcept	4%	–
Mercury(II) Halide Complexesidentify species formed in reaction	1	One-line MCQRecall	4%	–
Variable Oxidation States of Actinoidsreason for property of f-block elements	1	One-line MCQConcept	4%	–

Chance next is the historical rate at which an idea with this record came back in the following paper. It is low for every idea, which is why learning the topic beats memorising past questions. All repeated ideas

Every question

d- and f-Block Elements questions, year by year

The opening words of each question as it appeared in the official paper, with the idea it tested.

NEET 20263 questions

Q61
Given below are two statements : One is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R. Assertion A : Generally, 3d…
Idea: Melting Points of Transition Metals
New ideaEasyAssertion–reason
Q67
The lanthanide ion having four unpaired electrons is (Given : Atomic numbers of Ce = 58, Nd = 60, Tb = 65 and Ho = 67)
Idea: Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ions
Asked last yearMediumOne-line MCQ
Q85
The green paramagnetic species formed by heating $\mathrm{KMnO_4}$ at 513 K is
Idea: Preparation and Thermal Decomposition of KMnO4
New ideaEasyOne-line MCQ

NEET 20252 questions

Q71
Given below are two statements : Statement I : Ferromagnetism is considered as an extreme form of paramagnetism. Statement II : The number…
Idea: Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ions
Asked last yearMediumTwo statements
Q80
Match List - I with List - II List-I | List-II A. Haber process | I. Fe catalyst B. Wacker oxidation | II. $PdCl_2$ C. Wilkinson catalyst…
Idea: Transition Metals as Catalysts
New ideaMediumMatch the lists

NEET 20243 questions

Q67
'Spin only' magnetic moment is same for which of the following ions? A. Ti $^{3+}$ B. Cr $^{2+}$ C. Mn $^{2+}$ D. Fe $^{2+}$ E. Sc $^{3+}$ …
Idea: Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ions
MediumOther
Q84
The E° value for the Mn $^{3+}$ /Mn $^{2+}$ couple is more positive than that of Cr $^{3+}$ /Cr $^{2+}$ or Fe $^{3+}$ /Fe $^{2+}$ due to change of
Idea: Trends in M3+/M2+ Electrode Potentials
New ideaHardOne-line MCQ
Q94
The pair of lanthanoid ions which are diamagnetic is
Idea: Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ions
HardOne-line MCQ

NEET 20232 questions

Q60
The stability of Cu $^{2+}$ is more than Cu $^{+}$ salts in aqueous solution due to -
Idea: Ionisation and Hydration Enthalpy of Transition Metal Ions
Asked last yearMediumOne-line MCQ
Q86
Which of the following statements are INCORRECT? A. All the transition metals except scandium form MO oxides which are ionic. B. The…
Idea: Oxides of Transition Metals
New ideaHardOther

NEET 20222 questions

Q84
Gadolinium has a low value of third ionisation enthalpy because of
Idea: Ionisation and Hydration Enthalpy of Transition Metal Ions
New ideaMediumOne-line MCQ
Q96
In the neutral or faintly alkaline medium, $\mathrm{KMnO_4}$ oxidises iodide into iodate. The change in oxidation state of manganese in…
Idea: KMnO4 in Different Media
New ideaMediumOne-line MCQ

NEET 20212 questions

Q56
Zr (Z = 40) and Hf (Z = 72) have similar atomic and ionic radii because of :
Idea: Lanthanoid Contraction
New ideaEasyOne-line MCQ
Q68
The incorrect statement among the following is :
Idea: Properties of Lanthanoids and Actinoids
New ideaMediumOne-line MCQ

NEET 20202 questions

Q103
The calculated spin only magnetic moment of $\mathrm{Cr^{2+}}$ ion is :
Idea: Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ions
EasyNumerical
Q126
Identify the incorrect statement.
Idea: Cr(II) Reducing Power and Interstitial Compounds
New ideaMediumOne-line MCQ

NEET 20191 question

Q80
The manganate and permanganate ions are tetrahedral, due to :
Idea: Structures of Chromate, Dichromate, Manganate and Permanganate
New ideaMediumOne-line MCQ

NEET 20182 questions

Q69
Match the metal ions given in Column I with the spin magnetic moments of the ions given in Column II and assign the correct code : Column…
Idea: Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ions
New ideaMediumMatch the lists
Q70
Which one of the following ions exhibits d-d transition and paramagnetism as well ?
Idea: Magnetic Moment and Colour of d- and f-Block Ions
New ideaMediumOne-line MCQ

NEET 20172 questions

Q48
$\mathrm{HgCl_2}$ and $\mathrm{I_2}$ both when dissolved in water containing $\mathrm{I^-}$ ions the pair of species formed is :
Idea: Mercury(II) Halide Complexes
MediumOne-line MCQ
Q68
The reason for greater range of oxidation states in actinoids is attributed to
Idea: Variable Oxidation States of Actinoids
EasyOne-line MCQ

Questions from the official NEET UG papers published by NTA (CBSE before 2019). Topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s.