Question

B. Application and Reasoning
1. In cupric chloride, the valency of copper is +2 but in ferric chloride the valency of iron is +3. Explain why the
valencies are different though the suffixes are the same.​

Answer 1

Explanation:

• Copper has a valency of either +1 or +2

Remember:

★ The compound formed with metal of lower valency would have the suffix ‘-ous’

★ The compound formed with metal of higher valency would have the suffix ‘-ic’

Since the valency of copper is +2, the name comes as Cupric Chloride

• Similarly, iron has a valency of either +2 or +3

Compound formed with metal of higher valency would have the suffix '-ic'

So, Iron with valency +3 (higher valency than +2) has the suffix '-ic' and so compound formed is Ferric Chloride.