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Which of the following compounds is the most stable?

O A. AlCl₃
B. AgCl
O C. LiCl
O D. CuCl₂

User Ididak
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1 Answer

4 votes

Final Answer:

CuCl₂ (Copper dichloride) is likely the most stable among the options because copper (Cu) can exist in various oxidation states, and in this case, it forms a stable ionic compound with chloride (Cl). The correct answer is D. CuCl₂.

Step-by-step explanation:

The stability of metal halides is often influenced by the charge and size of the metal cation. In general, smaller and highly charged metal cations form more stable compounds with halides.

In the provided options:

A. AlCl₃ (Aluminum trichloride): Aluminum is a metal with a +3 charge, and it is relatively small. The compound is covalent and exists as a dimer (Al₂Cl₆) in the solid state, making it less stable than ionic compounds.

B. AgCl (Silver chloride): Silver is a metal with a +1 charge, and it forms a stable ionic compound with chloride.

C. LiCl (Lithium chloride): Lithium is a metal with a +1 charge, and it forms a stable ionic compound with chloride.

D. CuCl₂ (Copper dichloride): Copper can exist in different oxidation states. In this case, it is in the +2 oxidation state, and it forms a stable ionic compound with chloride.

Considering the stability of ionic compounds formed by metals, the most stable compound among the given options is D. CuCl₂ (Copper dichloride).

User Boris Ponomarenko
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