Question

Define variable valency?

Answer 1

• Valency is the combining capacity of an atom of the element with other atoms to form different types of compounds.
• Some of the elements have different combining capacities as they show more than one valency which is known as variable valency.
• The atoms of such elements can accept or donate different numbers of atoms depending upon different conditions to form different types of compounds.
• For example: Nickel shows three types of variable valencies i.e. 2, 3, 4 and Iron shows two types of variable valencies i.e. 2, 3.