Who is stable nickle 2 and nickle 4 and how?
When discussing nickel’s oxidation states, the primary ones you’ll encounter are +2 (Ni2+) and +4 (Ni4++). Out of these, Ni2+ is by far the most stable and prevalent. You’ll find it in the majority of nickel compounds, whether you’re looking at what’s naturally occurring or what’s used in industry. This stability comes down to its electron configuration—[Ar] 3d 8—which is energetically favorable and offers significant crystal field stabilization in coordination complexes. It simply doesn’t take as much energy to form Ni2+, and its chemical environment is generally more forgiving.
On the other hand, Ni4+is much less common. Achieving this state requires removing four electrons, which is energetically demanding. As a result, Ni4+ only appears in a few rare or highly specialized compounds. It’s also a strong oxidizing agent and not something we typically observe under standard conditions.
In summary, the +2 oxidation state of nickel is more stable and widespread than the +4 state due to its favorable electronic configuration and lower energy requirement for formation. If you need further clarification on this or related concepts, feel free to ask.