Which Chlorides are the Most Stable for Gallium and Thallium and Why?

[rgscott]

Homework Statement

"What are the most stable chlorides of Gallium and Thallium. Explain your answer in terms of Z_eff.

Homework Equations

Zeff = Z - S
Z = number of protons
S = number of core electrons

The Attempt at a Solution

Well my attempt at a solution is that GaCl3 and TlCl3 are the most stable chlorides of Ga and Tl. Ga has 31 protons and 28 core electrons so Zeff = 31 - 28 = +3 valence electrons (4s²4p¹). The same also applied for Thallium so Zeff = 81- 78 = +3 valence electrons (6s²6p¹). So Ga⁺³ and Cl^-1 = GaCl₃ and Tl⁺³ and Cl^-1 = TlCl₃

 

[nate808]

. This is because the +3 ion is the most stable for both elements due to the filled 4s and 4p orbitals. Additionally, the effective nuclear charge (Zeff) plays a role in determining stability. As the number of core electrons increases, the Zeff also increases, making the ion more stable. Therefore, the compounds with the highest Zeff, GaCl3 and TlCl3, are the most stable chlorides of Gallium and Thallium, respectively. This is because the increased Zeff results in a stronger attraction between the nucleus and the valence electrons, making the compounds more stable. Overall, the stability of these chlorides can be explained by the balance between the number of valence electrons and the Zeff of the elements.