Transition Element Oxides

Dunitz, J. D. Orgel, L. E. (1957) Electronic properties of transition element oxides, n. Cation distribution amongst octahedral and tetrahedral sites. /. Phys. Chem. Solids, 3, 318-33. 

Poster 32. B.S. Kim, D.Y. Lee, M.W. Oh, S.D. Park, H.W. Lee, W.S. Chung and T. Ishii (Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Pusan National University, Kagawa University) Comparison of Electronic State Calculation and Experimental Results of Electrical Conductivity of Mn-X(transition elements) Oxide by Anodic Deposition... 

It therefore seems quite natural to choose silica, silica aluminas, and aluminium oxide as the objects of the first systematical quantum-chemical calculations. These compounds do not contain transition elements. They are built of the individual structural fragments primary, secondary, etc. This enables one to find the most suitable cluster models for quantum-chemical computations. The covalent nature of these structures again makes quite efficient a comparatively simple method of taking into account the boundary conditions in the cluster calculations. Finally, these systems demonstrate clearly defined Bronsted and Lewis acidity. This range of questions comprises the subject of the present review. This does not by any means imply that there are no quantum-chemical computations on the cluster models of the surface active sites of transition element oxides. It would be more proper to say that the few works of this type represent rather preliminary attempts, being far from systematic studies. Also, many of them unfortunately include some disputable points both in the statement of the problem and in the procedure of calculations. In our opinion, the situation is such that it is still unreasonable to try to summarize the results obtained, and therefore this matter is not reviewed in the present article. 

Hydrothermal experiments with 1 1 mixtures of the transition element oxide and uranium trioxide with a single exception, did not give the desired MUO4 compounds. The CUO-UO3 experiment gave a mixture of CUUO4, CuUsOio, and a basic copper sulfate. All attempts to prepare 1 1 double oxides of the four remaining members of the series led to the formation of the corresponding triuranate phase mixed with unreacted transition element oxide. 

All decomposition reactions are endothermal except that of FeU04, presumably because this is the only reaction which involves oxidation of the double oxide. No significant diflFerence was noted in the DTA or TGA curves of the two NiU04 phases. It is interesting to note the alternating pattern in the decomposition reactions of the uranates. The iron, nickel, and zinc double oxides tend to decompose directly into their constituent oxides, while the manganese, cobalt, and copper compounds decompose to other double oxides. The pattern is not carried over into the decomposition temperatures. In this instance, the thermal stability of the double oxides appears to vary directly with the characteristic transition element oxidation states Gr(III) > Mn, Go (III, II) > Ni, Zn(II) > Gu(II, I). The iron compounds constitute a definite exception to this pattern. 

Table 7.1. Proportions of transition element oxides in common types of clay minerals...

Structural characterization of the d° transition-element oxides. Cation coordination numbers and coordination polyhedra. 

The transition elements are often said to exhibit variable valency. Because they so readily form complex compounds, it is better to use the term variety of oxidation states . The states usually found for the elements Sc-Zn are ... 

Some of the oxidation states given above, especially the higher oxidation states (7, 6) and oxidation state 0, are found only when the metal atom or ion has attached to it certain groups or ligands. Indeed the chemistry of the transition elements is so dominated by their tendency to form coordination complexes that this aspect of their behaviour must be considered in some detail. 

Like iron and the next transition element, nickel, cobalt is not generally found in any oxidation state above + 3, and this and + 2 are the usual states. The simple compounds of cobalt(III) are strongly oxidising ... 

Reference has been made already to the existence of a set of inner transition elements, following lanthanum, in which the quantum level being filled is neither the outer quantum level nor the penultimate level, but the next inner. These elements, together with yttrium (a transition metal), were called the rare earths , since they occurred in uncommon mixtures of what were believed to be earths or oxides. With the recognition of their special structure, the elements from lanthanum to lutetium were re-named the lanthanons or lanthanides. They resemble one another very closely, so much so that their separation presented a major problem, since all their compounds are very much alike. They exhibit oxidation state -i-3 and show in this state predominantly ionic characteristics—the ions. 

Vanadium, a typical transition element, displays weU-cliaractetized valence states of 2—5 in solid compounds and in solutions. Valence states of —1 and 0 may occur in solid compounds, eg, the carbonyl and certain complexes. In oxidation state 5, vanadium is diamagnetic and forms colorless, pale yeUow, or red compounds. In lower oxidation states, the presence of one or more 3d electrons, usually unpaired, results in paramagnetic and colored compounds. All compounds of vanadium having unpaired electrons are colored, but because the absorption spectra may be complex, a specific color does not necessarily correspond to a particular oxidation state. As an illustration, vanadium(IV) oxy salts are generally blue, whereas vanadium(IV) chloride is deep red. Differences over the valence range of 2—5 are shown in Table 2. The stmcture of vanadium compounds has been discussed (6,7). 

Trialkyl- and triarylarsine sulfides have been prepared by several different methods. The reaction of sulfur with a tertiary arsine, with or without a solvent, gives the sulfides in almost quantitative yields. Another method involves the reaction of hydrogen sulfide with a tertiary arsine oxide, hydroxyhahde, or dihaloarsorane. X-ray diffraction studies of triphenylarsine sulfide [3937-40-4], C gH AsS, show the arsenic to be tetrahedral the arsenic—sulfur bond is a tme double bond (137). Triphenylarsine sulfide and trimethylarsine sulfide [38859-90-4], C H AsS, form a number of coordination compounds with salts of transition elements (138,139). Both trialkyl- and triarylarsine selenides have been reported. The trialkyl compounds have been prepared by refluxing trialkylarsines with selenium powder (140). The preparation of triphenylarsine selenide [65374-39-2], C gH AsSe, from dichlorotriphenylarsorane and hydrogen selenide has been reported (141), but other workers could not dupHcate this work (140). 

Metals and alloys, the principal industrial metalhc catalysts, are found in periodic group TII, which are transition elements with almost-completed 3d, 4d, and 5d electronic orbits. According to theory, electrons from adsorbed molecules can fill the vacancies in the incomplete shells and thus make a chemical bond. What happens subsequently depends on the operating conditions. Platinum, palladium, and nickel form both hydrides and oxides they are effective in hydrogenation (vegetable oils) and oxidation (ammonia or sulfur dioxide). Alloys do not always have catalytic properties intermediate between those of the component metals, since the surface condition may be different from the bulk and catalysis is a function of the surface condition. Addition of some rhenium to Pt/AlgO permits the use of lower temperatures and slows the deactivation rate. The mechanism of catalysis by alloys is still controversial in many instances. 

Cu ( j -C5H5)2] is not. Likewise, Fe and Ni carborane derivatives are extremely stable. Conversely, metallocarboranes tend to stabilize lower oxidation states of early transition elements and complexes are well established for Ti", Zr , Hf , V , Cr and Mn" these do not react with H2, N2, CO or PPh3 as do cyclopentadienyl derivatives of these elements. 

None of the three elements is particularly abundant in the earth s crust though several minerals contain them as major constituents. As can be seen from Table 13.1, arsenic occurs about halfway down the elements in order of abundance, grouped with several others near 2 ppm. Antimony has only one-tenth of this abundance and Bi, down by a further factor of 20 or more, is about as unabundant as several of the commoner platinum metals and gold. In common with all the post-transition-element metals. As, Sb and Bi are chalcophiles, i.e. they occur in association with the chalcogens S, Se and Te rather than as oxides and silicates. 

Transition elements, for which variable valency is energetically feasible, frequently show non-stoichiometric behaviour (variable composition) in their oxides, sulfides and related binary compounds. For small deviations from stoichiometry a thermodynamic approach is instructive, but for larger deviations structural considerations supervene, and the possibility of thermodynamically unstable but kinetically isolable phases must be considered. These ideas will be expanded in the following paragraphs but more detailed treatment must be sought elsewhere. " ... 

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