Ivor and Olive Lewis on fri 10 aug 07
Dear Friends,
For some time I have wondered why the Element Copper or its oxides do =
not form silicate compounds and why there are no natural Copper minerals =
other than those that are Carbonates or hydrated silicates.=20
Recent reading prompts me to think I do myself a disservice by the way I =
have learned to think about compound formation, either by the =
combination of ionic species or through covalency.
By relegating those elementary concepts which I learned at school and =
giving more prominence to the nature of the nucleus of the atoms an =
alternative, though not new, description can be given to molecular =
species that sheds light on their ability to enter into chemical =
reactions or remain inert. This shows why Copper oxide, Cu2O will not =
form molecules of Copper Silicate and why it is able to do so in the =
presence of Water.
In essence, Copper oxides are compounds whose valency electrons form an =
Octet which behaves in a manner similar to the outer shell of the Noble =
Gases. Neon, Argon etc exist as monatomic gases, not as molecular gases.
Best regards,
Ivor Lewis.
Redhill,
South Australia.
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