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2.4B: Isoelectronic Molecules

  • Page ID
    2540
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    periodic copy.jpg
    Figure 2 shows how Isoelectronic Species vary in atomic radii. Within a species, the radii differs depending on charge and shielding character of the electrons.

    Isoelectronic Species Periodic Trends

    The observation that isoelectronic species are usually isostructural, first made by Penny and Southerland in 1936, known as the isoelectronic principle (Geoff). Table 1 shows an example of isostructural isoelectronic species periodic trends. All of these molecules are octahedral and isoelectronic within their periods.

    Isostructural Isoelectronic Species in Differeing Groups and Periods

    Table 1 Group 13 Group 14 Group 15 Group 16 Group 17
    Period 3 AlF63- SiF62- PF6- SF6 ClF6+
    Period 4 GaF63- GeF62- AsF6- SeF6 BrF6+
    Period 5 InF63- SnF62- SbF6- TeF6 IF6+

    Other interesting trends appear in the periodic table including:

    • Isoelectronic matricies--all isoelectronic species in a matrix defined by total electrons and valence electrons vary by progression in group number. For example, a 14 electron/10 valence electron diatomic matrix would have molecules such as CN-, CO, and N2.
    • Isoelectronic arrays--an atom is replaced with another which alters the charge and continues the isoelectronic relationship. For example: BeF42-, BF4-, and CF4.

    References

    1. Smith, Michael, and Jerry March. March's Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Interscience, 2007.
    2. Rayner-Canham, Geoff. "Isoelectronic Series: a Fundamental Periodic Property." Foundations of Chemistry 11.2 (2009): 123-29.

    Problems

    1) Why is it important to understand the term "isoelectronic" and its trends throughout the periodic table?

    2) Which isoelectronic species has the largest radius?

    a. Mg2+ b.N3- c. O2- d. F-

    3) Name 3 isostructural molecules

    Answers:

    1) Isoelectronic can help predict chemical reactions and interactions between molecules.

    2) N3-

    3) AlF63-, SiF62-, PF6-


    2.4B: Isoelectronic Molecules is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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