Species with "Eighteen + Two" Valence Electron

These species are generally composed of heavy elements. 81Ti element found as Ti 3+
cation, the system of 18 valence electrons are quite stable. However, Ti cations with the
electron configuration [36Kr] 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2, was also found and even more stable
than Ti3+ cations. This configuration system stability often attributed with the fact full all
filled orbitals, specifically known as the electron configuration of the "18 + 2" system or in
terms of species with inert electron pair. Elements Ga, In, and Tl (group 13), Ge, Sn, and Pb
(group 14), and As, Sb, and Bi (group 15) can be formed sequentially M+, M2+, and M3+ ions,
typically with inert electron pair, (4-6) s2.
The role of the inert electron pair to the stability of the ion in the group turned out to be
stronger with increasing atomic number. For example Tl+, sequentially more stable than In+
dan Ga+; Sn4+ is more stable than Sn2+; but otherwise Pb2+ is more stable than Pb4+. In group
15, Sb3+ and Bi3+ fairly stable, likewise Sb5+; however, Bi5+ is less stable.
Species with Various Electron Valence
Ions of this type consists of transition elements of d and f group which has an electronic
configuration d and f is not full. Generally, these ions have the 8-18 outer electronic structure.
That is ns2 np6 nd(0-10) with n = 3, 4, 5. In addition, the transition group elements are known to
form cations with various oxidation state.
Group f elements, lantanoide and aktinoide, that each has the electronic configuration ... 4f
(1-14)

5s2 5p6 5d (0-1) 6s2, dan ... 5f(1-14) 6s2 6p6 6d(0-1) 7s2. By removing the
outermost electron, that is (n-1)d(0-1) ns2 , these elements produce M3+ cation that more
stable with leave the 8 valence electron configuration, but with varying amounts of electrons
inside is not full, (n-2)f(1-14) . The stability of the transition ions and the inner transition,
generally associated with the complex compounds formation.

The Ion formation tendency

The sequence of six types of ion stability is that the type of the electronic configuration of
noble gases is most stable, followed by eighteen electron configuration type; ion with the
transition elements configuration type and the inner transition is most unstable. The more
stable the structure of the ion configuration, the less tendency the ion to form complex ion.
The question that appear immediately is what are the factors that support the formation of an
ion? Generally it can be predicted that the level of ease of an ion formation is influenced by
three main factors, that is:
1) ion electronic configuration stability that is concerned, the more stable configuration is
formed more easily an element forming the ion,
2) ion charge, the smaller the ionic charge ions more easily formed, and
3) ion size, the greater the size of the cation and the smallest anion size, the both are more
easily formed.
Why is that? Basically, the more electrons are released from the atom or its ion, the greater
the energy that is needed because the remainder electron, more stronger bounded by effective
nuclear charge of the species that is also greater. But, for atoms which is larger, the outermost
electron is not too strong is bound to the nucleus so that these atoms able to form ions with a
charge greater than the atoms that is smaller. As an example for the 14 group, C and Si atoms
are both difficult to form M4+ ions, but Sn and Pb are both easy to form M 4+ ion. Otherwise,
on the formation the anion, small atoms relatively stronger bind the electrons; for the halogen
group, for example, the F atom is easier to form the F- ions than Cl atom, and so Br and I.
Physical properties of Ionic Species
The above description discuss about the release and binding of electrons to form positive ions
and negative ions in the molecule compounds. If conditions do not allow for the formation of
specific ions, thus, the communion of electrons will occur and a covalent bond is formed. The
transition from the ionic nature to the covalent nature is depend on several factors. Criteria
for the determination of both types of such properties can be based on the physical properties
of the concerned species. Ionic compounds generally have relatively high boiling point and
melting point, and is a good conductor of electricity in the molten or solution state. Relatively
high boiling point due to the relative amount of energy needed to break the Coulomb forces
between ions while the electrically conductive properties caused by the movement of ions in
the melt or solution.
Two species extreme example is ionic compound NaCl and covalent
compounds CCl4. According to the polarization theory developed by
Fajan, when two ion is close to each other forming a cloud of electrons,
the anion will be affected by the pull of cations, and at the same time
the nucleus of anions and the nucleus of cation will repel each other.
This will resulted the anions deformation or polarization as illustrated
by Figure 3.1

Gambar 3.1 Bentuk

(A) ion normal, dan
(B) terpoplarisasi

In general, the cation size is much smaller than the of anions, therefore the polarization
properties of the cations are also much smaller than the polarization of anions. The important
thing to known is that this polarization effect results in electrons especially valence electrons
are no longer fully affected by one of ion or atom. but distributed so that is influenced by
both ion or atom are concerned. The greater the influence of both atoms simultaneously, the
smaller the degree of ionic nature and the greater the degree of covalent nature of the
concerned species. This effect can be formulated as the following description.
1) The amount of the charge. Rising ionic charge resulted in an increase of polarized
nature of the counterion, thus lowering ionic properties and covalent properties
species....