Question

Thallium and indium form \(+1\) and \(+3\) oxidation states when in compounds. Predict the formulas of the possible compounds between thallium and oxygen and between indium and chlorine. Name the compounds.

Short answer

The possible compounds between thallium and oxygen are thallium(I) oxide (\(Tl_2O\)) and thallium(III) oxide (\(Tl_2O_3\)). The possible compounds between indium and chlorine are indium(I) chloride (\(InCl\)) and indium(III) chloride (\(InCl_3\)).

Step-by-step solution

Determine the oxidation states of oxygen and chlorine

Oxygen typically has an oxidation state of -2, while chlorine typically has an oxidation state of -1. Now that we know the oxidation states of all elements involved, we can use this information to predict the formulas of the compounds.

Predict the formulas of compounds formed between thallium and oxygen

Thallium can form compounds with oxygen in either +1 or +3 oxidation states. To create a neutral compound, we need to balance the positive and negative charges. With a +1 oxidation state, we need two thallium atoms to balance the charge of one oxygen atom, resulting in the formula: \(Tl_2O\) With a +3 oxidation state, we need two oxygen atoms to balance the charge of one thallium atom, resulting in the formula: \(Tl_2O_3\)

Name the compounds formed between thallium and oxygen

We can now name these compounds using IUPAC naming conventions. Compound with the formula \(Tl_2O\): Thallium(I) oxide Compound with the formula \(Tl_2O_3\): Thallium(III) oxide

Predict the formulas of compounds formed between indium and chlorine

Indium can form compounds with chlorine in either +1 or +3 oxidation states. As before, we need to balance the positive and negative charges to create neutral compounds. With a +1 oxidation state, we need one indium atom and one chlorine atom to balance the charges, resulting in the formula: \(InCl\) With a +3 oxidation state, we need one indium atom and three chlorine atoms to balance the charges, resulting in the formula: \(InCl_3\)

Name the compounds formed between indium and chlorine

Using IUPAC naming conventions, we can now name these compounds. Compound with the formula \(InCl\): Indium(I) chloride Compound with the formula \(InCl_3\): Indium(III) chloride In conclusion, the possible compounds between thallium and oxygen are thallium(I) oxide (\(Tl_2O\)) and thallium(III) oxide (\(Tl_2O_3\)). The possible compounds between indium and chlorine are indium(I) chloride (\(InCl\)) and indium(III) chloride (\(InCl_3\)).

Key concepts

Oxidation States

Oxidation states are a way to express the charge of an atom in a compound. This helps in understanding how electrons are distributed amongst different atoms within a compound. In simple terms, it tells us how many electrons an atom has gained, lost, or shared in bonding.
Oxygen typically has an oxidation state of -2. This means that it often gains two electrons when forming a compound. Chlorine typically exhibits an oxidation state of -1, indicating it usually gains one electron.
Metals like thallium and indium have variable oxidation states. Thallium can have oxidation states of +1 or +3, and indium can also be in +1 or +3 states depending on the compound it forms. Balancing these states with those of non-metals like oxygen and chlorine is fundamental to predicting the correct chemical formulas.

Chemical Nomenclature

Chemical nomenclature is the systematic naming of chemical compounds based on their structure and composition. It follows specific rules defined by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
When balancing compounds, we follow a clear guideline. A compound’s name often reflects its composition, such as the oxidation state of the metal. For example:

• Thallium(I) oxide is used to refer to the compound where thallium is in the +1 oxidation state ( Tl_2O ).
• Thallium(III) oxide refers to the case where thallium is in the +3 state ( Tl_2O_3 ).
• Indium(I) chloride and Indium(III) chloride are named similarly, reflecting oxidation states of +1 and +3, respectively.

This naming helps chemists communicate unambiguously about substances, ensuring clarity in the exchange of chemical information.

Compound Formation

Compound formation involves combining elements in a way that balances their oxidation states to form neutral compounds. The goal is to have a net charge of zero in the resulting compound.
For a compound between thallium and oxygen, thallium can adopt either +1 or +3 oxidation states:

• In a +1 state, two thallium atoms are required to balance one oxygen atom, leading to Tl_2O .
• In a +3 state, one thallium atom pairs with two oxygen atoms, resulting in Tl_2O_3 .

Similarly, indium forms compounds with chlorine:

• In a +1 oxidation state, one indium atom bonds with one chlorine atom to form InCl .
• In a +3 state, one indium atom bonds with three chlorine atoms, producing InCl_3 .

Understanding compound formation is critical in predicting chemical behavior and synthesizing new materials. Such knowledge is foundational in inorganic chemistry, facilitating the creation of a vast array of compounds by considering element combinations and their respective oxidation states.