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Overview of Metal Chemistry Angus Paul Wilkinson School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology
Topics to be covered An
overview of the properties of the metallic elements s - metals d - metals p - block metals f - block (lanthanides and actinides)
The occurrence of metallic elements
Enthalpies of vaporization
Reactivity Most
metals are reactive towards reagents such as oxygen The noble metals, Au, Pt show no tendency to react with oxygen and are generally of low reactivity Reaction of a metal with a reagent can produce compounds that still display metal-metal bonding
Examples of metal-metal bonding Rb9O2,
Cs4O
ReCl3,
MoCl2, ZrCl
Fe2(CO)9
Occurrence of cluster formation
S - block metals Very
reactive
Compounds
tend to be ionic
– much of their chemistry can be explained using the ionic model Do
not form a wide variety of complexes
Their
chemistry is predominantly that of species in the group oxidation state
Complexes of s-block metals Complexes
of alkali and alkaline earth cations are restricted to polydentate ligands – crown ethers – cryptands – EDTA and its relatives
Redox properties of s-block
Standard electrode potentials are quite uniform down the groups as the decrease in vaporization and ionization enthalpies is counterbalanced by a decrease in hydration enthalpy
Note that lithium is widely used in the fabrication of batteries. Why?
Crown ethers and cryptands
The macrocylic chelate effect
The efficient binding of chelating ligands is typically argued to be a consequence of entropic effects – Chelating ligand displaces several monodentate ligands
With macrocyclic ligands there is a thermodynamic advantage over more open chelating ligands that is enthalpic in origin
Size selectivity Crown
ethers and cryptands show quite high selectively for ions that fit the ligand well
Suboxides
A range of alkali metal oxides can be prepared that have the metal in oxidation states of less than one. They are often electrically conducting and can be viewed as materials where O2- is occupying holes in a metallic structure
Rb9O2
Cs11O3
Liquid ammonia solutions Dilute
solutions of Na in liquid ammonia are blue Na(s) --(NH3)---> Na+(am) + e-(am) The color is due to solvated electrons More concentrated solutions take on a metallic appearance The solutions are metastable Solvated electrons can also be produced in water based glasses by irradiation, but they are not as stable
Color centers
Electrons can also be metastably trapped in solid matrices – Called color centers
Irradiation of salts with x-rays or other ionizing radiation produces colored defects. The color of the defect depends on the nature of the host lattice
KCl
KBr
NaCl
In each case the color is from a trapped electron. The color can be rationalized by using electron in a box arguments. As the “box” gets smaller the energy levels get further apart so the absorption moves further towards the blue
Alkalide ions If
alkali metals are dissolved in alkyamines alkalide ions (M-) are formed – The color of the solution in only dependent upon M-. That cation does not mater.
Alkalides
can be isolated if the counter cation is complexed with a cryptand – Na(2.2.2)+ Na-
Electrides It
is possible, using macrocyclic, ligands to prepare electrides from solutions of alkali metals – Cs(18-C-6)2+ e-
An
electride is an ionic solid where the anion is an electron
The transition or d - metals Extraction
of the metals First row versus heavy transition metals – Stability of high oxidation states – Coordination numbers
Oxocomplexes
Polyoxometallates First
row versus heavy metals
– Low oxidation state compounds
Extraction of the metals
First row metals versus the heavy transition elements The
chemistry of the 4 and 5 d metals is similar The first row TMs differ from the heavy metals – 3 d metals often have oxidizing maximum oxidation states – the heavy metals often display metal-metal bonding when they are in low oxidation states – 3 d metals often show lower coordination numbers than their heavier brethren
Trends in size In
going across a transition metal row ionic radii tend to decrease In going down a transition metal group: – ions of the 3 d metal are often much smaller than the 4 and 5 d ions – the 4 and 5 d ions are frequently similar in size
Ionic radii of the 3d metals
Ionic radii down a group Tetrahedral
Cr(VI) - 40 pm, Mo(VI) - 55 pm, W(VI) - 56 pm Octahedral Ti(IV) - 74.5pm, Hf(IV) - 85pm, Zr(IV) - 86pm Square planar Ni(II) - 63pm, Pd(II) - 78pm, Pt(II) - 74pm Low spin octahedral Co(III) - 68.5pm, Rh(III) 80.5pm, Ir(III) - 82pm
3d metals in high oxidation states
Oxidizing power down a group Typically,
oxidizing power of highly oxidized species drops on going down a group. High oxidation states for heavy metals are often quite stable.
The maximum possible oxidation states for the halides of TMs
Note that the group oxidation state is only achieved in the early part of the transition block Higher oxidation states are often achievable with the heavier metals (4d, 5d) Fluorine often facilitates a higher oxidation state than other halides
Fluorides and oxides Several
metals only achieve their maximum possible oxidation state in oxides – OsO4 is readily prepared but there is no corresponding fluoride – MnO4- exists but there is no corresponding fluoride – CrO42- is easily prepared but CrF6 is difficult to prepare and is not very stable.
Variation in coordination number on going down a group The
coordination numbers heavy metal complexes are often greater than those of the 3d metals
Aquo ions Aquo
ions of 3d metals are common
Aquo
ions of the heavy TMs are rare
– Pd(OH2)4 2+, Ru(H2O)62+
Oxocomplexes
Metals in high oxidation states, particularly at high pH, tend to form oxo or hydroxo complexes rather than aquo species – MnO4-, CrO42-, WO42-, VOL42+
Oxo ligand effectively has a double bond to the metal. There is considerable π interaction between the metal and ligand It is quite common to find the site trans an oxo ligand to be vacant or occupied by a weakly bound ligand due to this π interaction
Oxocomplexes of Ru
Pourbaix diagram shows – high pH favors conversion of an aquo ligand to a hydroxo ligand and conversion of hydroxo to oxo – Increased oxidation state favors conversion of an aquo ligand to a hydroxo ligand and conversion of hydroxo and oxo
Polyoxometallates Oxo
species of the early transition elements often undergo condensation reactions at low pH to form polyoxometallates CrO42- + 2H+ -----> Cr2O72- + H2O 6MoO42- + 10H+ ----> Mo6O192- + 5H2O
Examples
Note: only corner sharing is found for polychromates (built from tetrahedra), but edge sharing of polyhedra is OK for Mo and W (built from octahedra). This is due to distance between metals when tetrahedra and octahedra share edges.
Heteropolyanions The
polyanions produced on condensation can incorporate non-metal species such as phosphorous and silicon in which case the resulting clusters are referred to a heteropolyanions
Low oxidation state cations of the 3d metals Low
oxidation state ions of the early 3d metals are either strongly reducing or unknown – Ti2+, Ti3+, V2+, Cr2+
The
(II) oxidation state becomes increasing more stable on going across the row
Low oxidation state ions of the heavy transition metals The
early heavy transition metals do not form simple compounds with electronegative elements when they are in a low oxidation state – ReCl3 is metal-metal bonded
Low
oxidation states (II/III) become progressively more stable on going across a row
Metal - metal bonding Many
low oxidation state compound of the heavy transition metals display metal-metal bonds For the earlier metals these compounds usually involve π donor ligands like halide or alkoxide For the later metals π acceptor ligands are usually present (CO, PR3 etc.)
Sheet and chain structures ZrCl
and Sc7Cl10
MoCl2 and it’s relatives
MoCl2 contains octahedral clusters of molybdeum. This motiff is found in variety of compounds
Part of MoCl2 structure
Can be produced from MoCl2 by reaction with HCl. Note faces are capped.
Chevrel phases Similar
face capped octahedral clusters are found in a family of chalcogenide materials called Chevrel phases – PbMo6S8 etc.
Nb and Ta clusters Edge
bridged clusters (rather than face capped) with the formula M6X182+ are found for Nb and Ta
ReCl3 ReCl3
is a metal-metal bonded compound containing Re triangles – Discrete Re3Cl123triangles can be produced by treatment with Cl-
Re2Cl82 Classic
example of a species with a quadruple bond
Other metal-metal bonded dimers
Can achieve a wide variety of bond orders!
Nobel metals Not
readily attacked by aqueous H+ – Difficult to oxidize
However,
there is an extensive chemistry of these elements – Dangerous to assume they are truly inert!
Nobel metal complexes These
metals occur in a variety of relatively low oxidation states
Many
of their d10 complexes are linear
Many
of their d8 complexes are square
planar
Metal sulfides The
transition metals become softer on going from left to right across the periodic table Polysulfide species are quite common Highly oxidized metal ‘cations’ do not occur as sulfides – FeS2 - is an Fe(II) compound
Monosulfides
Disulfides
The pyrite and CdI2 structures
Applications of layered disulfides MoS2
– used as a lubricant – used in desulfurization Co/MoS2/Al2O3
TiS2
– battery electrode material – xLi + TiS2 -----> LixTiS2
Group 12 (IIB) The
elements Zn, Cd and Hg are not classified as transition elements as there is chemistry does not involve valence delectrons
These
elements are not ‘Noble’, like their neighbors – due to low lattice energies
Redox reactions Zn
and Cd are reactive compared to their neighbors Cu and Ag – Zn2+ (-0.76V), Cu2+ (+0.34V) – Cd2+ (-0.40V), Ag+ (+0.80V)
The
chemistry of Zn and Cs is dominated by divalent cations
Mercury
has a significant chemistry in both (I) and (II) oxidation states
Hg22+ Hg22+
is a metal-metal bonded species
Mercury
(I) can be easily persuaded to disproportionate
Hg22+(aq)
=== Hg(l) + Hg2+(aq) K = 6 x10-3
Hg22+(aq) +
2OH-(aq) --> Hg(l) + HgO(s) + H2O(l)
The p block metals Heavier
p-block metals often occur with an oxidation state 2 less then the group value – This is the ‘Inert pair effect’
Group 13 (IIIA) Aluminum
chemistry is dominated by an oxidation state of (III)
Gallium
and indium form compounds showing both (I) and (III) oxidation states – In(I) and Ga(I) are reducing
Thallium
forms compounds in oxidation states (I) and (III) – Tl(III) is oxidizing
M(III) chemistry MX3
(M - B, Al, Ga; X = Cl, Br, I) are Lewis acids
For
hard donors the Lewis acid strength is,
– BX3 > AlX3 > GaX3
For
soft donors the Lewis acid strength is,
– GaX3 > AlX3 > BX3
M(I) chemistry Ga
and In form a number of mixed valent and low oxidation state compounds – GaCl2 is Ga(GaCl4)
However,
some Ga(II) compounds have metal metals bonds – GaS and TMA2(Cl3GaGaCl3)
Tl(I)
has some similarities with both K(I) and with Ag(I) – TlX (X = halides) insoluble – TlOH soluble
Tin and lead chemistry Both
metals form compounds in oxidation states (II) and (IV)
Sn
(II) is reducing in aqueous solution
Pb(IV) M(II)
is oxidizing
compounds often have a “stereochemically active lone pair”
Stereochemically active lone pairs
Bismuth Bismuth Bi(V)
chemistry is dominated by Bi(III)
is a powerful oxidant
Bi3+(aq) +
3e- ------> Bi(s) E0 = +0.32V
Bi5+(aq) +
2e- ------> Bi3+(aq)
Bi(III)
E0 ~ +2 V
compounds often have stereochemically active lone pairs
Factors favoring distorted geometries Low
coordination numbers favor a stereochemically active lone pair – BiF3 and SnCl3-
Lighter
elements show a stronger tendency than their heavier relatives to be distorted – Sb > Bi
Small
ligands favor the presence of a distortion
– F and alkoxides rather than I
Lanthanide chemistry The
lanthanides are technologically important Their chemistry is simple – dominated by the +3 oxidation state – the M3+ ions are hard
Overview of lanthanide properties
Applications of lanthanides They
are widely used in ceramics synthesis
– High Tc superconductors – Conducting oxide electrodes
They
are used in phosphors for devices such as TV sets They are used in lasers – Nd-YAG
Compare oxidation states of the lanthanides and actinides
The lanthanide contraction
Separations
Lanthanide ions are difficult to fully separate from one another using conventional chemical means as there sizes and charges are so similar – Can separate elements that readily do to +2 or +4
Liquid-liquid extraction used for large scale separation Ion exchange chromatography used when high purity is needed
Complexes
The lanthanides cations are all hard and form complexes with hard donor ligands The complexes often have high coordination numbers 6-10 and irregular geometries Ligands interact very weakly with the f-electons – Crystal field splitting is extremely small and often negligible
Complexes have some applications including NMR shift reagents
O
O
(CH3)3C
CF2CF2CF3
fod
Actinide chemistry Much
more complicated than that of the rare earths The early actinides can attain a variety of oxidation states
Overview of actinide properties
Applications of actinide chemistry Nuclear
fuel/ weapons material processing Nuclear fuel reprocessing Nuclear waste remediation
Stable oxidation states of actinides
Aqueous solution chemistry of the actinides The
formation of oxo species is commonplace UO22+, UO2+ PuO22+, PuO2+ The nature of species present in solution is strongly dependent upon both pH and reduction potential
Fission In
a conventional nuclear reactor 235U nuclei capture neutrons. This leads to the 235U nucleus splitting to give fission products, a lot of energy and additional neutrons which can go on and propagate the nuclear reaction – Fission products span a very wide range of elements
The PUREX process PUREX
is a widely used chemical process for separating fission products, unused uranium and plutonium from used nuclear fuel