Oxidation States of Transition Metals

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on determining the possible oxidation states of transition metals based solely on their names, without resorting to external references. Participants agree that oxidation states, such as +1 and +2 for copper (Cu), can often be inferred from the electron configuration of the metal. However, they emphasize that there is no universal rule applicable to all transition metals, highlighting the complexity of their oxidation states. Understanding these concepts is essential for solving related problems efficiently in chemistry.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with transition metals and their properties
  • Basic understanding of electron configurations
  • Knowledge of oxidation states and their significance in chemical reactions
  • Experience with the periodic table and its trends
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the electron configurations of transition metals
  • Study the common oxidation states of transition metals in various compounds
  • Explore the concept of ligand field theory and its impact on oxidation states
  • Learn about the role of oxidation states in redox reactions
USEFUL FOR

Chemistry students, educators, and professionals interested in understanding the oxidation states of transition metals and their applications in chemical reactions.

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I have a question regarding the possible oxidation states of metals. I understand how to find the oxidation state of a metal in a compound, that's pretty straightforward. What I'm interested in is finding possible oxidation states given only the name of the metal. For example, Cu has possible +1 and +2, how do I figure this out without looking it up? Or is it a purely experimental value? I don't really need to know for any particular reason, just so I don't have to look up possible values when I'm doing problems in the future.

I would imagine it comes from the electron configuration, but I can't see any obvious correlation. Am I on the right track? Does anyone have any links on this? Thanks in advance for the help.
 
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Mostly periodic table, in the case of transition metals there is no One Rule to bring them all :wink:
 
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