Zinc compounds
Zinc compounds are chemical compounds containing the element zinc which is a member of the group 12 of the periodic table. The oxidation state of zinc in most compounds is the group oxidation state of +2. Zinc may be classified as a post-transition main group element with zinc(II). Zinc compounds are noteworthy for their nondescript appearance and behavior: they are generally colorless (unlike compounds of other elements with oxidation number +2, which are colored), do not readily engage in redox reactions, and generally adopt symmetrical structures. General characteristics In its compounds, Zn2+ ions have an electronic configuration [Ar] 3d10. As such, Zn2+ tends to have a symmetrical coordination geometry in both its complexes and compounds. In both ZnO and ZnS, (zincblende) zinc is bound tetrahedrally bound to four ligands (oxide and sulfide, respectively). Many complexes, such as ZnCl42−, are tetrahedral. Tetrahedrally coordinated zinc is found in metallo-enzymes such as carbonic anhydrase. Six-coordinate octahedral complexes are also common, such as the aquo complex [Zn(H2O)6]2+, which is present when a zinc salts are dissolved in water. Five- and seven-coordination numbers can be imposed by special organic ligands. Many zinc(II) salts are isomorphous (have the same type of crystal structure) with the corresponding salts of magnesium(II). This parallel results from the fact that Zn2+ and Mg2+ have almost identical ionic radii as well as filled electron shells. That two elements so different in atomic number have the same radius is a consequence of the d-block contraction. Whilst calcium is somewhat larger than magnesium, there is a steady decrease in size as atomic number increases from calcium to zinc. Zn(II) complexes are kinetically labile, i.e. the Zn-ligand bonds exchange with other ligands rapidly. For this reason, zinc ions are at the catalytic centers in many enzymes. Zn(I) Compounds with zinc in the oxidation state +1 are extremely rare. The compounds have the formula RZn2R and they contain a Zn — Zn bond analogous to the metal-metal bond in mercury(I) ion, Hg22+. In this respect zinc is similar to magnesium where low-valent compounds containing a Mg — Mg bond have been characterised. Other oxidation states No compounds of zinc in oxidation states other than +1 or +2 are known. Calculations indicate that a zinc compound with the oxidation state of +4 is unlikely to exist. Colour and magnetism Zinc compounds, like those of main group elements, are mostly colourless. Exceptions occur when the compound contains a coloured anion or ligand. However, zinc selenide and zinc telluride are both coloured due to charge-transfer processes. Zinc oxide turns yellow when heated due to the loss of some oxygen atoms and formation of a defect structure. Compounds containing zinc are typically diamagnetic, except in cases where the ligand is a radical. Reactivity of metallic zinc Zinc is a strong reducing agent with a standard redox potential of −0.76 V. Pure zinc tarnishes rapidly in air, rapidly forming a passive layer. The composition of this layer can be complex, but one constituent is probably basic zinc carbonate, Zn5(OH)6CO3. The