Group 7 elements redox properties

This chapter consists of a description of the ions formed in aqueous solutions by the transition elements - the d-block elements - and a discussion of the variations of their redox properties across the Periodic Table from Group 3 to Group 12. There is particular emphasis on the first transition series from scandium to zinc in the fourth period, with summaries of the solution chemistry of the second (Y to Cd) and third (Lu to Hg) series. The d-block ions in solution are those restricted solely to aqua complexes of cations, e.g. [Fe(H20)f,]" +, and the various oxocalions and oxoanions formed, e.g. V02+ and MnCXj". Oxidation states that are not well characterized are omitted or referred to as such. 

Mendeleev s early periodic table placed manganese and chlorine in the same group. Discuss the chemical evidence for these placements, focusing on the oxides of the two elements and their acid-base and redox properties. Is there a connection between the electronic structures of their atoms In what ways are the elements different ... 

The redox behaviour of Th, Pa and U is of the kind expected for d-transition elements which is why, prior to the 1940s, these elements were commonly placed respectively in groups 4, 5 and 6 of the periodic table. Behaviour obviously like that of the lanthanides is not evident until the second half of the series. However, even the early actinides resemble the lanthanides in showing close similarities with each other and gradual variations in properties, providing comparisons are restricted to those properties which do not entail a change in oxidation state. The smooth variation with atomic number found for stability constants, for instance, is like that of the lanthanides rather than the d-transition elements, as is the smooth variation in ionic radii noted in Fig. 31.4. This last factor is responsible for the close similarity in the structures of many actinide and lanthanide compounds especially noticeable in the 4-3 oxidation state for which... 

A predominant feature of the atomic structure of the lanthanide group is the sequential addition of 14 electrons to the 4f subshell (Table 1). The /"electrons do not participate in bond formation and in ordinary aqueous solutions all of the lanthanides exhibit a principal (III) state. The common (III) state confers a similarity in chemical properties to all lanthanide elements. Some of the lanthanides can also exist in the (II) state (Nd, Sm, Eu, Tm, Yh) or in the (IV) state (Ce, Pr, Nd, Tb, Dy). Except for Ce(IV), Eu(II), and Yb(II), these unusual lanthanide oxidation states can only be prepared under drastic redox pressure and temperature conditions, and they are not stable in aqueous solutions. Cerium (IV) is a strong oxidizing agent... 

The main usefulness of Eh-pH diagrams consists in the immediacy of qualitative information about the effects of redox and acid-base properties of the system on elemental solubility. Concerning, for instance, cerium, figure 8.20 immediately shows that, within the stability field of water, delimited upward by oxidation boundary curve o and downward by reduction boundary curve r, the element (in the absence of other anionic ligands besides OH groups) is present in solution mainly as trivalent cerium Ce and as soluble tetravalent hydroxide Ce(OH)2. It is also evident that, with increasing pH, cerium precipitates as trivalent hydroxide Ce(OH)3. 

In contrast to the other elements of group 13, thallium is considered a soft acid in Pearson s soft/hard acid classification (see Hard Soft Acids and Bases).This makes the element and its derivatives unique, and leads to its potentially most outstanding feature the properties of thallium are a subtle blend of some of the most desirable properties of numerous other metals (e.g. heavy alkali metals, silver, mercury, and lead). Thallium compounds are stable in both oxidation states (-1-1 and -1-3). The trivalent cation is quite a strong oxidation reagent, since it is reduced to T1+ easily (standard redox potential E°(TP+ — Tl" ") = -1.25 V). The ease of this reduction is utilized in certain organic reactions. 

Knowledge of the stable oxidation states of an element is very important since many other properties depend on these states. It is also important to know about the relative stability of oxidation states, i.e. redox potentials, for a chemical application. Trends in their values can also provide information about similarities or differences between the transactinides and their lighter homologues. Thus, for example, the stability of the maximum oxidation state is known to increase within transition element groups. It is therefore of great interest to investigate whether transactinides fall within this trend those at the beginning of the 6d row were expected to be stabilized in lower oxidation... 

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