The Ionization (Heterolysis) of Covalent Compounds as a Coordination‐Chemical Phenomenon

Abstract

Abstract The ionization of a covalent compound into a cation and an anion is a coordination‐chemical phenomenon. The ions are formed with coordination either by nucleophilic attack of an electron pair donor or by electrophilic attack of an electron pair acceptor. The dielectrically controlled component of the ionization affects only the degree to which it occurs. It is shown that the ionization generally increases with increasing donor strength of the donor or with increasing acceptor strength of the acceptor. For a given M, the ease of ionization of the MX bond increases in the order X = fluoride < chloride < bromide < iodide. These general aspects are discussed with the aid of examples.