+2 AND +3 OXIDATION

STATE OF TRANSITION
ELEMENTS

Across the period

Stability of +2 oxidation state
Stability of +3 oxidation state
Reason

of nuclear charge binds d subshell

electrons
more strongly.

difficulty of removing the third

electron from d orbitals.

Stabilities of transition elements can be predicted

based on S.E.P.
element
Eo

Eo

2+

/M

3+ 2+
/M

Ti

Cr

Mn

Fe

Co

Ni

Cu

(V) -1.63

-1.18 0.91

-1.18

-0.44

-0.28

0.25

+0.3
4

(V)

-0.26 0.41

+1.4
9

+0.7
7

+1.82

-0.37

O2+4H++4e=2H20

+1.23

2H++2e-=H2
Ti

Cr

M2+/M
Mn

Fe

Co

Ni

Cu

E0 of M2+/M and M3+/M2+ as compared to Eo=0V (for acidic

solution) and Eo =+1.23V(in air)

-ve E0 value of M3+/M2+ indicates higher oxidation

state (+3) is more stable (eg. Ti, V &Cr)
+ve E0 value of M3+/M2+ indicates lower oxidation
state (+2) is more stable in aqueous solution.
(eg. Mn & Co) ( note: same as pg 44&45)
Fe2+ is stable in absence of O2.
Fe2+ is unstable and will be further oxidised to
Fe3+ in the presence of O2 .
+2 ions start as strong reducing agent whereas
+3 ions start stable and become more oxidising
across the period.
Strong oxidising agent such as Co3+ can react
with water spontaneously releasing O2 .
4Co3+ + 2H2O 4Co2+ +O2 + 4H+