Inorganic Concepts Flashcards
What is the inert pair effect?
Increased stability of N-2 oxn state over N oxidation state down the main group
Where N is the group number
What are some examples of the inert pair effect?
- In group 15 (N=5) PCl5,is stable but AsCl5 unstable to AsCl3, SbCl5 stable
- H2SO4 stable but H2SeO4 unstable
- CO2 stable, PbO2 decomposes to PbO
What is the relativistic effect?
As nuclear mass increases then orbiting e- move faster and closer to speed of light
Means relativistic mass of e- increases, so become stabilised, so higher IE
Also mixes more with d orbitals, so increase SO couploing
What is the ionic and covalent justification of the inert pair effect?
Ionic:
High IEs of ns orbitals so not used in bonding (not compensated by extra lattice enthalpy)
Covalent:
ns2 not involved as poorer s-p hydbridisation - as sig size and energy mismatch between ns and np for post 3d and post-5d elements (6s sig contracted due to relativistic)
Direct consequence of this lesser s-p hybridisation seen in bond angles and lone pair
What occurs to bond angles due to inert pair effect?
If s-orbitals not used then trans-bending occurs for better p-use (SH2 smaller angle than H2O)
Trans-bent structure seen in C2R2 structure comparing to down the group
How does stereochem inactive lone pairs seen in inert pair effect?
s is non-directional, so lp is stereochem inactive
Hybridisation of ns/p makes it active as gives it a direction
Hybridisation less favourable for post-3d/5d non-metals
What are the structures of SnO, PbO, and SnS, PbS?
Distorted rocksalt due to 5s/6p mixing with 5p/6p via the O2p/S3p
Results in a stereochem active lp
Not seen in PbS as energy gap between Pb 6s and S 3p too large so undistorted rocksalt and lp inactive
What is the alternation effect?
Describes oscillating trend in Zeff down the main group
From main and lanthanide contractions and relativistic effects
How is the alternation effect seen in group 13?
B -> Al sees IE decrease explained by Zeff2/n2
Al -> Ga sees IE increase, as TM contraction for Ga, 3d has no nodes and poorly shield 4s
Ga -> In sees IE decrease explained by 4d has an inner max so shields 5s e-
In -> Tl sees IE increase, as relativistic effects of 6s
What factors other than atomic radii does alternation effect affect?
Bond lengths and electronegativity
Stability of group 15 pentachlorides (PCl5 stable but others unstable)
Causes inert pair effect
Why does relativistic effect only seen in s-orbital?
Only orbitals with a non-0 coefficient on the nucleus
How does relativistic effect cause colour and shape of Au?
Due to s-dz2 mixing as 6s lower in energy
Means smaller gap absorbs in visible and “gold” colour
Au compounds: mixing effects causes d9/10 complexes to be linear
What is a frustrated lewis pair?
Lewis acid-base pair that cannot form an adduct due to steric hindrance
How do frustrated lewis pairs cause small molecule activation?
They have unquenched reactivity and can activate small molecules
Can heterolytically cleave H2 or activate CO2
What are the radius ratio rules?
Rules to predict structures/coord geometries of ionic solids based on ratio of radii of cation and anion (r+/r-)
Stable structure will have cation with largest number of anions possible before anions come into contact - max lattice enthalpy and min coulombic repulsions
Explains structures (coord numbers and etc)
What is an example of the radius ratio rules?
All 3d MOs with rocksalt except ZnO as Zn2+ too small
ZnO adopts zinc blende
TiO2 6-coord rutile and ZrO2 8-coord fluorite
What are the limitations of radius ratio rules?
Assumes completely ionic
- Most alkali halides adopt rocksalt despite radius rules predicting otherwise - Br-/I- is more polarisable and so can be compressed so have a larger effective radius, meaning radius lower than expected
- Silver halides defy due to covalency, AgI wurtzite allows for closer Ag-Ag, and at higher T then changes structure to get 8-coord bcc
What is agostic bonding?
e- deficient (coord unsat) metals gain stabilisation by intra chelation
2 e- in C-H bond are donated into metal d-orbital
Usually β but can see α
What is the evidence of agostic bonding?
Neutron diffraction gives H location
Coupling const 1JCH reduced
C-H IR reduced
Increases C-H
When is neutron or X-ray diffraction used?
Can’t use X-ray for H atoms as small number of e- at H centre
What are the limitations of the agostic bonding theory?
Driving force is increase VE - which doesn’t make sense in early TM
How is agostic bonding seen in catalysis?
Increases “rigidity” of TS
Seen in Ziegler-Natta catalysis - highly electrophilic metal centre has agostic interactions with growing polymer chain
Incrased rigidity influences stereochem
What is an overview of the chelate effect?
Described increased stability of complexes with chelate ligands relative to stability of systems with monodentate
There are enthalpic and entropic contributions, and a probability factor
What is the entropic contribution to the chelate effect?
Binding of chelate releases many molecules per ligand, so increase # of molecules in product
So large and positive entropy change, and more -ve G and larger stability const (K)
What is the enthalpic contribution to chelate effect?
lp-lp repulsion between donor atoms overcome in chelate synthesis, so doesnt need to overcome during binding of multiple ligands
Less desolvation energy for chelate ligands
RNH2 more basic than NH3 due to inductive effect
How does prob factor affect the chelate effect?
After one site occupied then prob of second binding is greater when chelate as higher effective contribution of donor atoms in vicinity
What is the macrocyclic effect?
Macrocycle ligand complexes more stable than open chain acyclic analogues
Macrocycle - at least 3 donor atoms in cculic structure
Enthalpic and entropic contributions
What is the enthalpic contribution to the macrocyclic effect?
Initial enthalpy for macrocycle more +ve due to lp-lp repulsions stronger in cyclic
Change in complexation larger and more -ve, so complexation more stable
Less strongly solvated than acyclic analogues
What is the entropic contribution to macrocyclic effect?
Macro less conformationally flexible so lose fewer dof on complexation (S larger and more +ve than the acyclic)
Coord of metal cation release solvent molecules (same for acyclic but still better than monodentate)
What is the trans effect?
Ligand trans to leaving-group has an effect on rate of substitution
Series orders ligands by their effect on rate const of sub
When is the trans effect series most observed?
Most often for square planar, but can observed in Oct species
Combination of sigma gs and π-TS effects
How does trans effect explained by the effect on ground state?
Ligand higher in series if raises E of gs - seen with strong σ-donor ligands
Trans ligands bonded to same metal orbital as LG, so stronger the trans ligand the weaker the bond to LG
This can then effect the rate or strength of the bond (completely different)
Wha tis the trans influence series?
Bond-weaking effect due to the σ-bonding of a trans ligand to a leaving-group
If high in trans influence then not necessarily high in trans effect - doesnt include π donor effectiveness and other factors
How can the trans influence be observed?
X-ray crystallography for M-X bond lengths
IR stretching freq
NMR coupling const
What occurs to TS to give trans effect and influence?
Must lower energy of TS to be high in series, done by π-acceptor ligands
Because in TBP TS then LG and trans ligand share a d-orbital so extra e- density on metal on metal from new group accomodated by π-acceoptor of trans ligand
Pi-acceptors are low in trans inflence as they dont weaken M-LG bond
What is the Racah parameter?
Measure of interelectronic repulsion in a complex
Smaller for complexes than free ions as e- have more atoms to spread over
Smaller for 4/5d as e- further apart
Increases across a period as higher Zeff
What is the nephelauxetic effect?
Explains decrease in Racah (B) when TM free ion forms a complex
Decreases for complexes as e- more spread out and ligands have -ve charge so decreases +ve charge on metal and orbitals expand
How does B change in complexation for Mn2+ compared to V2+?
B reduced less for Mn2+ as prefers to keep electrons localised due to exchange stabilisation
How is covalency involved in the nephelauxetic effect?
Covalency delocaises e-
Softer ligands therefore more delocalisation so reduced e- density
Means small B and ligands high in nephelauxetic effect series
How is π-donor/acceptor involved in nephelauxetic effect?
π-donors/acceptors high in nephelauxetic effect series as both spread the elec charge
What is the nephelauxetic effect series?
Extent of reduction of B for different ligands
What are the 1st row anomalies?
Chemistry of 1st row main group v different to later rows
Effects:
Oxn staes, hybridisation, multiple bonds, electronegative effects
How does oxn states of 1st row differ from main group?
Difference between 2p and later np is due to lack of radial nodes in 2p RDF
Means 2p more sensitive to charge so stabilises rapidly on oxn compared to 3p
Limits oxn states of 1st row as successive IE increase dramatically
How does 1st row hybridisation compare to rest of main group?
More sp hybridisations with 1st row as 2s/p have similar radial extents (diverges down the group)
Not favoured down the group as poorer size/energy match (decreasing S2/ΔE for hybridisations)
How can you see change in hybridisation down the group?
MeLi has tetramic with covalency, NaMe is ionic rocksalt
Trans-bent structures of E2R2
Bond angle in H2O larger than SH2
How is multiple bonds seen down the group?
π-overlap decreases faster than σ-ovelap down group
Means multiple bonds rather than double bonds becomes more common
What are oxoacids?
E(OH)qOp
where E is non-metal or early TM
How does the χ of a central atom affect acidity of oxoacids?
More χ makes O-H bond more polar and stabilises conj base
Opposite to HX - which is based on bond strength
How does # of O effect acidity of oxoacids?
Inductive effect and increased stability of conj base as p increases, so more resonance structures
What is Pauling’s main rule?
E(OH)qOp
pKa = 8 - 5p
As succesive ionisations, the pKa increases by 5 each time
When does Pauling’s rules fail?
H2CO3 less acidic than expected, as in eqm with H2O + CO2
Dont include solvation
HClO4 more acidic than HClO3 by a larger margin than expected. Due to VII oxn state much less stable than V, so Cl draws e- density towards itself, polarising OH bond & increasing acidity
What is the Kapustinskii equation?
Equation to calc lattice enthalpy
How is the Kapustinskii equation dervied?
Derived from Born-Lande
Define madelung constant A=0.87, account for repulsive interaction at short distance (1/n), and assume n=9 for rock-salt structure
What are the assumptions for the Kapustinskii?
Assumes ionic model:
* hard, incompressible spheres
* integer charges
* only elecrostatic forces
Breaks down when any covalency
What can the Kapustinskii equation be used to determine?
- Stability trends of different compounds and oxn states
- Solubilities - find in combination with born equation, solubility increases as the difference in the radii increases
What is intercalation?
Intercalation of guest species into a host lattice, which remains largely unchanged
Weak vdW interactions between layers make intercalation possible
Why/how does intercalation into graphite occur?
Graphite - semimetal, no bandgap but no density of states (dos) at Fermi. Can make into metal via two methods
Empty states above fermi easily filled via reductive intercatalation (KC8)
Filled states below Ef emptied via oxidative intercalation (C8Br)
What are some examples of layers to interacalate into?
Sulfides:
TiS2 + Na -> NaxTiS2
Others:
C60
ReO3 and WO3
Li-ion batteries