Oxidation State of Actinides

Oxidation is an important process involved in various chemical reactions. It takes place during the amalgamation of various chemical components. 

What Oxidation State And Process In Chemistry?

Oxidation is the process of loss of electrons or gain in the oxidation state of an atom, an ion, or of certain atoms in a molecule. In other terms, the oxidation state offers oxygen to the chemical reaction and the substance formed. 

For this process to take place, an oxidising agent is required. Most commonly used oxidising agent is potassium dichromate (VI) solution acidified with dilute sulfuric acid. Since there is a loss of electrons, this process of oxidation is represented by the term ‘OIL’.  This means ‘Oxidation Is Loss’. 

An example of the oxidation state is the combining of copper (Cu2) and magnesium (Mg) :-  

Cu2 + Mg →  Cu + Mg2

When these two metals are combined, the Cu is reduced by Mg. Here, Mg is reducing the Cu ions and thus is a reducing agent. From the perspective of the oxidation state, Cu is transferring its ions to Mg, which gives us Mg2. Here, Cu is the oxidising agent as it is transferring oxidising atoms to Mg.

Oxidation state is thus the total number of electrons either gained or lost by an atom in the process of forming a chemical bond with another atom.

What are Actinides?

Actinides are a group of 15 metallic elements, from 90 to 103, in the periodic table – from actinium to lawrencium. Most of these metallic elements are man-made (through nuclear reactions), except uranium, thorium and protactinium. 

These metallic elements have high radioactivity. In the periodic table, these elements are placed from the number 89 to 103. Their atomic numbers increase with their number in the periodic table. The last prefix of the actinide (-ide), is indicative of negative ions. The variability of valence in the actinides is relatively higher. 

The 15 elements of the actinide group in the periodic table are Actinium (Ac), Thorium (Th), Protactinium (Pa), Uranium (U), Neptunium (Np), Plutonium (Pu), Americium (Am), Curium (Cm), Berkelium (Bk), Californium (Cf), Einsteinium (Es), Fermium (Fm), Mendelevium (Md), Nobelium (No), and Lawrencium (Lr).

The first actinide discovered in 1789 was uranium. Actinium was discovered in 1899. 

Properties of Actinides

Here are some of the important properties of actinides:

• Actinides have high electropositivity. 
• Actinides can rust easily when they come in contact with air. 
• Actinides are metallic elements and are much denser than other elements.
• Actinides release hydrogen gas when they are mixed with diluted acid or boiled water. 
• Actinides possess both malleability and ductility. 
• Actinides are silver in colour and solid in state at room temperature.
• Actinides can directly combine with other non-metallic elements. 

Actinides are metallic elements that have a different oxidation state. 

Oxidation State Of Actinides

The oxidation state of each of the 15 actinides in the group is different. Generally, the oxidation state of actinides ranges between +2 to +7 O.S. 

Here are the values of the oxidation state of some of the actinides. 

• Oxidation state of Actinium: +3 O.S
• Oxidation state of Thorium: +4 O.S
• Oxidation state of Uranium: +3 to +6 O.S
• Oxidation state of Neptunium: +3 to +7 O.S
• Oxidation state of Plutonium: +3 to +7 O.S

The oxidation state of actinides refers to the charge of the atom if all the bonds of the atom are ionic. It also highlights the degree to which the actinide can carry the process of oxidation. The oxidation state of actinides can be positive, negative or zero.

Conclusion

Oxidation is an important process involved in various chemical reactions. Oxidation is the loss of electrons or a rise in the oxidation state of an atom, an ion, or some atoms in a molecule. In other terms, oxidation is the gain of the oxygen in the chemical combination. The oxidation state offers oxygen to a chemical reaction to form a new substance. 

For this process to take place, an oxidising agent is required. The most commonly used oxidising agent is potassium dichromate (VI) solution acidified with dilute sulfuric acid. 

Actinides are a group of 15 metallic elements, from 90 to 103, in the periodic table – from actinium to lawrencium. Most of these metallic elements are man-made (through nuclear reactions), except uranium, thorium and protactinium. 

The oxidation state of each of the 15 actinides in the group is different. Generally, the oxidation state of actinides ranges between +2 to +7 O.S.