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Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: siewwen168 on 26/12/2004 15:25:18

Title: Is there a method to determine the number of oxidation states for an element?
Post by: siewwen168 on 26/12/2004 15:25:18

Hello everyone.I wanna ask something about chemistry.[:)]

Is there a method to determine how many oxidation states that an element can exist?normally those can have more than one oxidation states is from the D-block element,such as copper(+2,+3) and titanium(+1,+2,+3,+4) and so on.[:(][:(]

I have no idea how to find out the number of oxidation states that an element can exist,for example nikel,is there anyone can help?[:D]

Title: Re: Is there a method to determine the number of oxidation states for an element?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 29/01/2009 08:52:20

Quote from: siewwen168 on 26/12/2004 15:25:18

Is there a method to determine how many oxidation states that an element can exist?

No, you just have to remember them!

Title: Re: Is there a method to determine the number of oxidation states for an element?
Post by: lightarrow on 29/01/2009 12:05:35

Quote from: siewwen168 on 26/12/2004 15:25:18

such as copper(+2,+3) and titanium(+1,+2,+3,+4)

No. Copper (+1,+2), Titanium (+2,+3,+4).

Title: Re: Is there a method to determine the number of oxidation states for an element?
Post by: Bored chemist on 29/01/2009 20:36:38

IIRC Copper(III) does exist in a few obscure compounds.
BTW, why does everyone miss out zero as an oxidation state?
The elements are in a zero oxidation state (of course) but things like Ni(CO)4 (nickel carbonyl) and such have a zero oxidation state but are fairly stable compounds.
In some cases you can even get metals in negative oxidation states.

(Oh dear! I probably justr put someone off chemistry for life)