What is oxophilicity?

Oxophilicity refers to the tendency of a chemical species (such as a metal or metal ion) to react with oxygen or oxygen-containing molecules. Oxophilic compounds have an affinity for oxygen and can undergo oxidation reactions easily.

The oxophilicity of a compound is often related to its electronic configuration, as compounds with higher oxidation states tend to be more oxophilic. For example, metals in higher oxidation states (such as Fe3+ or Co2+) are generally more oxophilic than those in lower oxidation states (such as Fe2+ or Co+).

Oxophilicity is an important concept in many areas of chemistry, including catalysis, materials science, and environmental chemistry. For example, in catalysts used for the oxidation of organic compounds, the oxophilic metal ions help to facilitate the reaction by interacting with oxygen molecules.

In environmental chemistry, oxophilic metals can be important for the removal of pollutants from the environment. For example, iron oxide nanoparticles are used to remove arsenic from contaminated water by adsorbing and oxidizing the arsenic.