Alkali metals charge densities

Complex Ion Formation. Phosphates form water-soluble complex ions with metallic cations, a phenomenon commonly called sequestration. In contrast to many complexing agents, polyphosphates are nonspecific and form soluble, charged complexes with virtually all metallic cations. Alkali metals are weakly complexed, but alkaline-earth and transition metals form more strongly associated complexes (eg, eq. 16). Quaternary ammonium ions are complexed Htde if at all because of their low charge density. The amount of metal ion that can be sequestered by polyphosphates generally increases... 

The anions MeF6 and X approach each other closely to form the heptacoordinated complex MeF6X(n+1)", or separate from one another, according to the polarization potential of the outer-sphere cation (alkali metal cation -M+). This process is unique in that the mode frequencies of the complexes remain practically unchanged despite varying conditions. This particular stability of the complexes is due to the high charge density of Ta5+ and Nbs+. 

The fact that evaporated potassium arrives at the surface as a neutral atom, whereas in real life it is applied as KOH, is not a real drawback, because atomically dispersed potassium is almost a K+ ion. The reason is that alkali metals have a low ionization potential (see Table A.3). Consequently, they tend to charge positively on many metal surfaces, as explained in the Appendix. A density-of-state calculation of a potassium atom adsorbed on the model metal jellium (see Appendix) reveals that the 4s orbital of adsorbed K, occupied with one electron in the free atom, falls largely above the Fermi level of the metal, such that it is about 80% empty. Thus adsorbed potassium is present as K, with 8close to one [35]. Calculations with a more realistic substrate such as nickel show a similar result. The K 4s orbital shifts largely above the Fermi level of the substrate and potassium becomes positive [36], Table 9.2 shows the charge of K on several metals. 

As one moves down the alkali metal family, the charge density would be expected to decrease due to significantly larger volume and more shielding. 

Exchange in zeolites of alkali, alkaline earth, transition metal ions and small organic ammonium ions, has been reviewed (111), and in general, the exchange is characterized by small AG values comparable to those found in clay minerals. Althoufft identical selectivity orders for alkali and alkaline earth metal ions are obtained, as in montmorillonite, the opposite variation of AG with charge density is found. 

Association and mobilities are related in a complex way to the bulk properties of the solvent and solute. These properties include the charge density and distribution on the ions and the Lewis base properties, the strength and nature of the solvent molecule dipole, the hydrogen-bonding capability, and the intermolecular structure of the solvent. Some correlations can be made on the basis of mobility and association trends in series such as the halides and alkali metals within a single solvent others can be drawn between solvents for a given ion. It appears that conductance measurements provide a clear measure of the sum of ion-solvent interactions, but that other techniques must be used in conjunction with conductance if assessments of individual contributions from specific factors are to be made. 

There are only few main group metal ion hydrates open to detailed mechanistic study of water exchange by NMR Be , Mg , Al" , Ga" and to a less extent, In" . They provide the opportunity to study the influence of size and charge on exchange rate constant and mechanism without the complicating effects of the variation of the electronic occupancy of the d-orbitals. All of the alkali ions as well as Ca , Sr, and Ba are very labile as a consequence of their relatively low surface charge density. However, indications on water exchange on Sr " can be obtained from... 

Reduction of benzenoid hydrocarbons with solvated electrons generated by the solution of an alkali metal in liquid ammonia, the Birch reaction [34], involves homogeneous electron addition to the lowest unoccupied 7t-molecular orbital. Protonation of the radical-anion leads to a radical intermediate, which accepts a further electron. Protonation of the delocalised carbanion then occurs at the point of highest charge density and a non-conjugated cyclohexadiene 6 is formed by reduction of the benzene ring. An alcohol is usually added to the reaction mixture and acts as a proton source. The non-conjugated cyclohexadiene is stable in the presence of... 

Intercalation of cations into a framework of titanium dioxide is a process of wide interest. This is due to the electrochromic properties associated with the process (a clear blue coloration results from the intercalation) and to the system s charge storage capabilities (facilitated by the reversibility of the process) and thus the potential application in rocking-chair batteries. We have studied alkali-metal intercalation and ion diffusion in the Ti02 anatase and spinel crystals by theoretical methods ranging from condensed-phase ab initio to semiempirical computations [65, 66]. Structure relaxation, electron-density distribution, electron transfer, diffusion paths and activation energies of the ion intercalation process were modeled. 

With alkali metal cryptates, cations and anions are well separated (except for the KNCS complex of [2.2.1] in which the ligand is too small to effectively shield the cation). Indeed the cryptated cation may be regarded as a very large, spheroidal cation (—10 A in diameter) of low surface charge density. 

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