Zinc's oxidation state can be made +3, fundamentally changing the
element's chemistry

Date:
August 16, 2021
Source:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Summary:
Zinc traditionally has a valence of two, meaning two electrons
take part in the element's chemical reaction. A new article shows
that the chemistry of zinc can be fundamentally changed, making
it trivalent -- or a valence of three -- with the proper reagent.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new paper by VCU researcher Puru Jena "shows that fundamental chemical properties of an atom can be changed" and could lead to the synthesis
of new materials with applications to many industries.


==========================================================================
Zinc traditionally has a valence of two, meaning two electrons take part
in the element's chemical reaction. A new paper by Virginia Commonwealth University researcher Puru Jena, Ph.D., shows that the chemistry of
zinc can be fundamentally changed, making it trivalent -- or a valence
of three -- with the proper reagent.

"This technology allows you to manipulate chemistry at the fundamental
level, making synthesis of new materials with tailored properties
possible," said Jena, Distinguished Professor of Physics in the College
of Humanities and Sciences.

While zinc is categorized as a transition metal element, its third
electron shell -- arranged around the nucleus and containing electrons
-- is full, and unlike regular transition metals, does not take part in
zinc's chemical reaction and does not allow zinc to be magnetic. However,
Jena found, when reacted with highly stable trianions, zinc's properties
can be changed.

"Its [third shell] d-electrons participate in chemical reactions and
zinc can carry a magnetic moment," Jena said. "This study shows that fundamental chemical properties of an atom can be changed." Jena's paper, "Realization of Zn3+ Oxidation State," was published in the journal
Nanoscale. The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Jena, the author of roughly 650 papers and 14 books, has conducted
research on atomic clusters and nanoparticles for more than 35 years.

"The remarkable properties of nanomaterials are that they can be very
different from their bulk counterparts. For example, gold, a noble metal,
can be reactive when size is reduced to nanometers," he said. "This is
what we call modern day alchemy." Jena's groundbreaking findings on zinc
build on his past work, he said, as he and colleagues have been developing atomic clusters that can be highly stable when carrying multiple charges.

"We are always exploring new materials with properties that people
thought are not attainable; we do this by controlling their size,
composition and charge state," he said. "The possibilities are limitless." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided
by Virginia_Commonwealth_University. Original written by Brian
McNeill. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Hong Fang, Huta Banjade, Deepika, Puru Jena. Realization of the Zn3
oxidation state. Nanoscale, 2021; DOI: 10.1039/D1NR02816B ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210816143930.htm

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