Abstract:

Metallicity is one of major difficulties in inorganic chemistry. The metal element has various ability of losing its electrons in various conditions, so we should analyze the metallicity by using some viewpoints and methods of materialist dialectics. The right evaluation criterion of metallicity is chosen according to actual condition on the basis of the particularity of contradiction. Ionization energy (I) is adopted to evaluate the metallicity when the metal element exists in a free-atom state. Δ_fH_m^ϴ or Δ_fG_m^ϴ is employed to evaluate the metallicity when the elemental metal reacts with the nonmetal in dry condition. The standard electrode potential (φ^ϴ) is taken to evaluate the metallicity when the elemental metal reacts with the oxidant in aqueous solution. Finally, it is essential to understand the relationship between thermodynamics and dynamics. Thermodynamic criteria (I, Δ_fH_m^ϴ, Δ_fG_m^ϴ, and φ^ϴ) only indicate the ability of losing electrons, and the reaction rate is depended on actual dynamic factors.

Key words: Metallicity, Evaluation criterion, Materialist dialectics, Thermodynamics, Dynamics