Talk:Superatom

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[edit] Properties

What are the physical properties of superatoms? At STP, what is their state (are the nobel-gas chemical properties ones solid, liquid, or gas)? Do they behave more like atoms or molecules alone (can Al-14 be disintegrated by reaction with reagent, or is it more stable and requires extreme conditions like plasma to decompose? Polonium 01:56, 25 January 2006 (UTC)

Answer:

In regards to the stability of aluminum superatoms. It is very important to understand that the stability of an aluminum superatom is very dependant on its valence state. Without 40 electrons it is just a cluster of aluminum atoms. So to answer your question, they are relativley fragile when compared to iodine or calcuim. The ionzation potential of Al₁₃^- is right around 3.6 eV; if it is reduced, it becomes the quite reactive species Al₁₃, which has been termed a superhalogen. Likewise, it's reactivity towards a reagent is very likely dependant on the electron affinity (EA) of the reagent. If the EA is higer than ~3.6 eV it will oxidize the superatom and leave a cluster of aluminum that is very reactive. However, if it is kept in a chemical environment that allows it to remain an ion, it should be inert with respecte to any reagents with a EA lower than ~3.6 eV (without any other protection)

In regards to the standard state(solid/liquid/gas). There is no direct answer to this question. It can be said however, that they will not be a gas. They are too masive, and charged. The state of an element is determined by the properties of the pure element at STP, however, A pure sample of aluminum superatoms can not exist, it would simply be a block of bulk aluminum. However, they might exist as a solid in a salt-like crystal structure. For example, KBr is a solid, but Bromine is a liquid and Br ions exist in many aqueous solutions.