Content
Thehydroxides result from the combination of a metal oxide (also called basic oxides) and water. In this way, the composition of hydroxides is given by three elements: oxygen, hydrogen and the metal in question. In combination, the metal always acts as cation and the element of the hydroxide group acts as an anion.
Hydroxides in general share a number of characteristics, such as having a bitter taste like soap, being slippery to the touch, being corrosive, having some detergent and soapy properties, dissolving oils and sulfur, and reacting with acids to produce salts.
On the other hand, some characteristics are specific to each type of hydroxide, such as sodium, which quickly absorbs carbon dioxide and water; that of calcium that is obtained in the reaction of calcium oxide with water; or iron (II) which is practically insoluble in water.
What are they used for?
The applications of hydroxides also vary between the different cases:
- The sodium hydroxide, for example, is associated with the industry of soaps and beauty and body care products.
- The calcium hydroxideOn the other hand, it has an intermediary role in some processes such as that of obtaining sodium carbonate.
- The lithium hydroxide It is used in the manufacture of ceramics, while magnesium is used as an antacid or laxative.
- The iron hydroxide They are used in the process of fertilizing plants.
Nomenclatures
As for many of the chemical combinations, there are different nomenclatures for hydroxides:
- The traditional nomenclature, for example, it is the one that begins with the word hydroxide following the element but taking into account the valence with which it acts: when it is with one valence the ending 'ico' will be used, when they are with two it will be the one with the highest valence ending 'bear' and the one with a minor ending with 'ico', and when it operates with three or four valences, the beginning 'hiccup' or 'per' will also be added depending on the case.
- The Stock nomenclature is the one that uses the word hydroxide, but instead of complementing with a single word, it uses the preposition 'of' and then the metal, placing the valences in parentheses.
- The systematic nomenclature it is the one that prefixes the numerical prefixes to the word hydroxide.
Examples of hydroxides
- Lead (II) hydroxide, Pb (OH)2, lead dihydroxide.
- Platinum (IV) hydroxide, Pt (OH)4, platinum quadhydroxide.
- Vanadic hydroxide, V (OH)4, vanadium tetrahydroxide.
- Ferrous hydroxide, Fe (OH)2, iron dihydroxide.
- Lead (IV) hydroxide, Pb (OH) 4, lead tetrahydroxide.
- Silver hydroxide, AgOH, silver hydroxide.
- Cobalt Hydroxide, Co (OH)2, cobalt dihydroxide.
- Manganese hydroxide, Mn (OH)3, manganese trihydroxide.
- Ferric hydroxide, Fe (OH)3, iron trihydroxide.
- Cupric hydroxide, Cu (OH)2, copper dihydroxide.
- Aluminum hydroxide, Al (OH)3, aluminum trihydroxide.
- Sodium hydroxide, NaOH, sodium hydroxide.
- Strontium hydroxide, Sr (OH)2, strontium dihydroxide.
- Magnesium hydroxide, Mg (OH)2, magnesium dihydroxide.
- Ammonium hydroxide, NH4OH, ammonium hydroxide.
- Cadmium hydroxide, Cd (OH)2, cadmium dihydroxide.
- Vanadic hydroxide, V (OH)3, vanadium trihydroxide.
- Mercuric hydroxide, Hg (OH)2, mercury dihydroxide.
- Cuprous hydroxide, CuOH, copper hydroxide.
- Lithium hydroxide, LiOH, lithium hydroxide.
Sometimes, hydroxides have common names given by their more conventional uses, such as sodium hydroxide which is also called caustic soda, potassium hydroxide which is called caustic potash, calcium hydroxide which is called lime water or lime quenched, and that of magnesium called milk of magnesia.
- Follow with: Examples of hydroxides (explained)
