Complexes of silver

The transition metals are found in the d block of the periodic table, and have general properties such as:

Coloured compounds

Catalytic behavior

Variable oxidation states

Formation of complexes

so how does silver compare and more specifically its complex ions

This is where Silver Ag becomes unique. It does not have an incomplete d orbital, as a single electron In the 5s orbital moves out to fill the 4d orbital, making the molecule ion overall more stable. Because of this, Ag is not classed as a transition metal, because it does not have variable oxidation states, thus stopping electrons from gettng excited, and displaying any colours. Therefore silver complexes are either white or colorless in most cases.

Octahedral complexes are the most common type of transition metal complex, as well as sq1uare planar and tetrahedral geometries. Silver ions are unusual, preffering to form linear complexes, i.e bond angles of 180 degrees. An example commonly seen in A level studies are [Ag(NH₃)]⁺ better known as Tollen's reagent

Simple lab uses of Silver complexes

Silver halides and Photography

What lies in store for Silver complexes

Graham Ross Macleod april 2003