The oxidation state of copper changes when aqueous copper (II) ions react with :<br>(I) NaOH(aq) (II β d and f Block Elements Chemistry Question
Question
The oxidation state of copper changes when aqueous copper (II) ions react with :<br>(I) NaOH(aq) (II) Fe(s) (III) KI(aq)
π‘ Solution & Explanation
Step 1: Transition metals exhibit their highest oxidation states in compounds with the most electronegative elements. Step 2: Oxygen (O) and Fluorine (F) are the two most electronegative elements in the periodic table. They can stabilize high oxidation states because of fluorine's high electronegativity (forming covalent/ionic bonds) and oxygen's ability to form multiple bonds (like in MnO4^- or CrO3). Step 3: Therefore, the highest oxidation states are found in combination with Fluorine (F) and Oxygen (O), matching option (a).