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Valency, Oxidation State and Diagonal Relationship

1. Valency of an element is the number of H-atoms (or) Halogen atoms (or) double the
number of oxygen atoms that can combine with one atom of that element.

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E.g.: valency of Oxygen in H2O is 2

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Valency of Nitrogen in NCl3 is 3

Valency of Nitrogen in NO2 is 4

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2. The valency of an element may or maynot be same in all its compounds. (Except for

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IA & IIA metals, Al, F)

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E.g.: valency of Phosphorous in PCl3 is 3 and in PCl5 is 5
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3. Exhibition of more than one valency by one element is known as variable valency.
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4. S-block elements show fixed valency. Elements of p, d and f-block elements

generally show variable valency. (Except IIB.Al, F, Zero group) variable valency.
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(Except IIB. Al, F, Zero group)

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5. The maximum valency of a representative element is equal to their group number

with Exceptions Highest valency of,’N’is 4, O’is 3 and F’ is 1.
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6. The minimum valency exhibited by an element is zero (in its elementary state).
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7. In periodic table highest valency shown by elements is 8.

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In OsO4 the valency of Os is 8. In RuO4 the valency of Ru is 8

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In XeO4 the valency of Xe is 8

8. Generally elements show highest valency in their Flourides and Oxides.

9. In a short period with respect to H valency increases from 1 to4 and then decreases
to zero.

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II period IA IIA IIIA IVA VA VIA VIIA ZERO

Element Li Be B C N O F Ne

Formula of Hydride LiH BeH2 BH4 CH4 NH3 H 2O HF --

Valence 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 0

10. In a 3rd period with respect to O valency increases from 1 to7 and then decreases to

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zero

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III period IA IIA IIIA IVA VA VIA VIIA ZERO

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Element Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

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Formula of oxide Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P2O5 SO3 Cl2O7 --

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Valence 1 2
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11. The possible charge with which an atom appears in a compound is called its
oxidation state.
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For s-block elements, oxidation state is equal to group number. For alkali metals
“+1”. For alkaline earth metals “+2”
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12. Oxidation state may be positive or negative or zero or fraction.

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13. p-block elements show multi oxidation states, their oxidation state change by two
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numbers.
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For IVA, VA, VIA, and VIIA group elements the common oxidation state is (group
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number --8)
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a. In IIIA group, Thallium shows stable +1oxidation state due to inert pair effect.
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b. In IVA group, Lead shows stable +2 oxidation state due to inert pair effect.

c. In VA group, Bismuth shows stable +3 oxidation state due to inert pair effect.

d. Group IV elements show +4 and +2 as common oxidation states.

e. Group V elements show +5 and +3 common oxidation states.

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f. The general oxidation state of group VIA is -2.Generally oxygen shows -2
oxidation state in its compounds but when it combines with fluorine it shows +2
(in OF2 ) and +1  in O2 F2  .

Except Oxygen remaing VIA group elements show -2, +2, +4 and +6 as common
oxidation states.

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g. The most electronegative element. Fluorine shows -1 oxidation state only (in its

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compounds)

Other halogens show -1, +1, +3, +5, +7 as common oxidation states.

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14. The common oxidation state of d-block elements is +2. All transition elements show

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variable oxidation states.

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a. In 3d- series Mn shows highest oxidation state +7 in KMnO4, In 4d- series
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Ruthenium and in 5d- series Osmium exhibit maximum oxidation state +8 in
RuO4 & OsO4
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b. In d-block elements, +1 oxidation state is shown by Cr, Cu, Ag, Au, and Hg
15. The common oxidation state of f-block elements is +3.
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16. Maximum oxidation state of an element never exceeds its group number.
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17. In the periodic table the first element of a group has similar properties with the
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second element of the next group. This is called diagonal relationship. Pair of
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elements that are diagonally related are called Bridge elements.

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I II III IV
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2nd Period Li Be B C
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3rd Period Na Mg Al Si
18. The diagonal relationship disappears after IVA group.
19. The diagonal relationship is due to similar sizes of atoms or ions and same
electronegativities of the participating elements and same polarising power.

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ionic ch arg e
20. Polarising power = 2
 ionic radius 
21. The elements present under diagonal relationship have very close properties.
E.g-1) BeO and, Al2O3 are amphoteric

2) Be2C and Al4C3 on hydrolysis produce methane

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3) Both Be and Al are rendered passive towards Conc. HNO3

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