What is the meaning of combining power of elements and radicals?
Usually it's the valence or some people call it oxidation number.
The combining power of elements and radicals refers to their ability to form chemical bonds with other elements or radicals in compounds. It is important to understand the valence or combining power of elements and radicals in order to predict and understand their reaction and bonding properties.
To determine the combining power of an element, you can refer to the periodic table. The main group elements, also known as the representative elements, have a combining power that corresponds to their group number. For example, elements in Group 1 (such as hydrogen, lithium, and sodium) have a combining power of +1 because they readily donate one electron to form a positive ion. Likewise, elements in Group 7 (such as fluorine, chlorine, and iodine) have a combining power of -1 because they readily accept one electron to form a negative ion.
The combining power of radicals, also known as polyatomic ions, is determined by the charge and composition of the ion. For example, the sulfate ion (SO4²-) has a combining power of -2 because it can accept two electrons. Similarly, the ammonium ion (NH4+) has a combining power of +1 because it can donate one electron.
By understanding the combining power of elements and radicals, you can determine their roles in chemical reactions and how they come together to form compounds.