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Caesium chemistry

Beyond state I

Nature Chemistry volume 5, pages 815–816 (2013)Cite this article

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Although caesium is well known in its oxidation state +I, many chemists have speculated about a possible higher state. Such a species has not yet been prepared, but based on quantum-chemical calculations CsFn compounds have now been predicted to be stable.

Our knowledge of the possible oxidation states of the elements in the periodic table is of fundamental importance for our understanding of chemistry, and in particular of chemical reactions. Many of the elements' possible oxidation states have been well established for decades. In recent years, however, a few new and somewhat unexpected states have been added to the list, such as mercury +IV in HgF4 (ref. 1) or iridium +VIII in IrO4 (ref. 2). Both compounds exist only under inert and cryogenic conditions, and it seems at first glance that these are of no chemical use. Yet such compounds are key in gaining further insights into the nature of the chemical bond, which in turn enables us to push the boundaries of our chemical concepts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, Fabeckstrasse 34-36, Berlin, 14195, Germany

    Sebastian Riedel

  2. Centre for Theoretical Chemistry and Physics, The New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study, Massey University Auckland, Auckland, 0745, New Zealand

    Peter Schwerdtfeger

  3. Fachbereich Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse, Marburg, D-35032, Germany

    Peter Schwerdtfeger

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  1. Sebastian Riedel
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  2. Peter Schwerdtfeger
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Correspondence to Sebastian Riedel or Peter Schwerdtfeger.

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Riedel, S., Schwerdtfeger, P. Beyond state I. Nature Chem 5, 815–816 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.1767

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