VARIABLE VALANCY:

Valency is the number of hydrogen atoms that can combine with (or displace) one atom of the element to form a compound. For example, two atoms of hydrogen combine with one atom of oxygen to form water (H2O); so, the valency of oxygen is two. For elements that do not combine with hydrogen, the valency is the combining power of the element with another element whose valency is known. Valency may also be defined as the number of electrons that an atom donates or accepts to form the duplet state (i.e., 2 electrons in outermost shell) or octet state (i.e., 8 electrons in outermost shell). The valency of an element is always a whole number. Some elements exhibit more than one valency, i.e., they have variable valency. In Iron [II] sulfate or ferrous sulfate, i.e., FeSO4, the valency of iron is two. In Iron [III] sulfate or ferric sulfate, i.e., Fe2(SO4)3, the valency of iron is three. Generally, the Latin / Greek name for the element (e.g., Ferrun) is modified to end in 'ous' for the lower valency (e.g., Ferrous) and to end in 'ic' for the higher valency (e.g., Ferric). The table below lists some elements that exhibit variable valencies. Element Copper Silver Mercury Iron Tin Lead Phosphorus Sulfur Symbol Valency Ions Cu Ag Hg Fe Sn Pb P S 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 2, 3 2, 4 2, 4 3, 5 4, 6 Cu Cu2+
1+

Nomenclature Copper [I] or Cuprous Copper [II] or Cupric

Ag1+ Silver [I] or Argentous Ag2+ Silver [II] or Argentic Hg1+ Mercury [I] or Mercurous Hg2+ Mercury [II] or Mercuric Fe2+ Fe3+ Sn2+ Ag4+ Pb2+ Pb4+ Iron [II] or Ferrous Iron [III] or Ferric Tin [II] or Stannous Tin [IV] or Stannic Lead [II] or Plumbous Lead [IV] or Plumbic

An ion is any atom or group of atoms with a positive or negative charge due to loss or gain of electrons. Positively charged ions are called cations [e.g., Fe3+], whereas negatively charged ions are called anions [e.g., Cl1-].