Covalent compound, oxidation state

Metals in higher oxidation states form halides which are essentially covalent, for example AICI3, SnCl, FeClj when these compounds dissolve in water they do so by a strongly exothermic process. Indeed it is perhaps incorrect to think of this only as a dissolution process, since it is more like a chemical reaction—but to differentiate for a particular substance is not easy, as we shall see. The steps involved in the case of aluminium chloride can be represented as... 

The oxidation state -1-4 is predominantly covalent and the stability of compounds with this oxidation state generally decreases with increasing atomic size (Figure 8.1). It is the most stable oxidation state for silicon, germanium and tin, but for lead the oxidation state +4 is found to be less stable than oxidation state +2 and hence lead(IV) compounds have oxidising properties (for example, see p. 194). 

The concept of oxidation states is best applied only to germanium, tin and lead, for the chemistry of carbon and silicon is almost wholly defined in terms of covalency with the carbon and silicon atoms sharing all their four outer quantum level electrons. These are often tetrahedrally arranged around the central atom. There are compounds of carbon in which the valency appears to be less than... 

In its chemistry, cadmium exhibits exclusively the oxidation state + 2 in both ionic and covalent compounds. The hydroxide is soluble in acids to give cadmium(II) salts, and slightly soluble in concentrated alkali where hydroxocadmiates are probably formed it is therefore slightly amphoteric. It is also soluble in ammonia to give ammines, for example Of the halides, cadmium-... 

Lead forms two series of compounds corresponding to the oxidation states of +2 and +4. The +2 state is the more common. Compounds of lead(IV) are regarded as covalent, those of lead(II) as primarily ionic. Lead is amphoteric, forming plumbous (Pb(II)) and plumbic (Pb(IV)) salts as well as plumbites and plumbates, respectively. 

The third class of compounds to be discussed in this chapter are those in which an RE group (E = S, Se, Te) is attached to a nitrogen centre. This category includes amines of the type (REfsN and the related radicals [(RE)2N] , as well as organochalcogen(ir) azides, REN3, and nitrenes REN (E = S, Se). Covalent azides of the type RTe(N3)3 and R2Te(N3)2, in which the chalcogen is in the +4 oxidation state, have also been characterized. 

Sulfur compounds exhibit a rich and multifarious variety which derives not only from the numerou.s possible oxidation states of the element (from —2 to 4-6) but also from the range of bond types utilized (covalent, coordinate,... 

However, in this oxidation state it is copper which provides by far the most familiar and extensive chemistiy. 8imple salts are formed with most anions, except CN and Iwhich instead form covalent Cu compounds which are insoluble in water. The salts are predominantly water-soluble, the blue colour of their solutions... 

The transition metals, unlike those in Groups 1 and 2, typically show several different oxidation numbers in their compounds. This tends to make their redox chemistry more complex (and more colorful). Only in the lower oxidation states (+1, +2, +3) are the transition metals present as cations (e.g., Ag+, Zn2+, Fe3+). In higher oxidation states (+4 to +7) a transition metal is covalently bonded to a nonmetal atom, most often oxygen. 

The magnetic properties of Pu compounds in different oxidation states are reviewed. New measurements on Pu(C8H8)2, PuFi, [(C2Hs)itN]2PuCl6, and [ (C2H5)itN]itPu(NCS)s are presented. The interpretation of the data is based on intermediate, j-j mixed crystal field states and orbital reduction due to covalency. Especially in the case of the organometallic compounds a large orbital reduction is found. 

Apart from the three broad categories of student conceptions discussed above, students displayed several inappropriate conceptions relating to the stractural properties of substances. For example, 14% of students suggested that Mg + ions were present in magnesium ribbon. A second example involved the chemical reaction between copper(II) oxide powder and dilute sulphuric acid. In this instance, 25% of students suggested that Cu + ions were present only in aqueous solution but not in the solid and liquid states. This view was rather unexpected because students had earlier been introdnced to ionic and covalent compounds. It is likely that students had merely rote-learned the general rale without sufficient understanding that ionic solids are formed between metallic and non-metallic elements. 

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