Question

Name the three elements which exhibit variable valency?

Answer 1

Variable valency:

• Certain elements exhibit more than one combining capacity.
• These elements are said to possess variable valency, that is more than one valency.

For example:

• In ${\mathrm{FeCl}}_2$ (Valency of iron($\mathrm{Fe}$) = 2) Ferrous chloride or Iron (II) chloride
• In ${\mathrm{FeCl}}_3$ (Valency of iron = 3) Ferric chloride or Iron (III) chloride.
• In ${\mathrm{Cu}}_2\mathrm{O}$ (Valency of copper($\mathrm{Cu}$) = 1) Cuprous oxide or Copper (I) oxide
• In $\mathrm{CuO}$ (Valency of copper = 2) Cupric oxide or Copper (II) oxide
• In ${\mathrm{SnCl}}_2$ (Valency of Tin($\mathrm{Sn}$) = 2) Stannous chloride or Tin (II) chloride
• In ${\mathrm{SnCl}}_4$ (Valency of Tin = 4) Stannic chloride or Tin (IV) chloride