Atomic radius within transition series

Mean cobalt-cobalt and nickel-nickel distances observed in these complexes are very close to interatomic distances determined at ambient temperatures in cobalt and nickel metals (Co-Co 2.489(7) A vs. 2.507 A in a-cobalt (33) Ni-Ni 2.469(6) A vs. 2.492 A in the metal (39)). The mean M-H bond lengths, as well as hydride displacements from M3 faces, are less for nickel in H3Ni4(Cp)4 than for cobalt in HFeCo3(CO)9(P(OMe)3)3. Although the differences are marginally significant within error limits (Ni-H 1.691(8) A vs. Co-H 1.734(4) A displacements from plane Ni3 0.90(3) A vs. Co3 0.978(3) A), they are in the expected direction since the covalent radius should vary inversely with atomic number within a transition series. However, other effects such as the number of electrons in the cluster also can influence these dimensions. 

One property of a transition metal ion that is particularly sensitive to crystal field interactions is the ionic radius and its influence on interatomic distances in a crystal structure. Within a row of elements in the periodic table in which cations possess completely filled or efficiently screened inner orbitals, there should be a decrease of interatomic distances with increasing atomic number for cations possessing the same valence. The ionic radii of trivalent cations of the lanthanide series for example, plotted in fig. 6.1, show a relatively smooth contraction from lanthanum to lutecium. Such a trend is determined by the... 

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