Hydroxider

Hydroxider is a term occasionally encountered in speculative chemistry discussions and some science fiction contexts to denote a hypothetical class of compounds that contain hydroxide functionalities arranged around a central framework. It is not a term in standard chemical nomenclature and has no universally accepted definition.

In formal chemistry, related concepts include the hydroxide ion (OH−), metal hydroxides with formulas such as M(OH)n, and hydroxo ligands in coordination chemistry, where the group −OH acts as a donor to a metal center. The word hydroxider may be used informally to describe species in which one or more hydroxo groups are bound to a central atom or integrated into a molecular scaffold, though such usage is nonstandard.

Possible interpretations of the term include:

- A class of metal-centered species in which hydroxo ligands bridge or cap a metal core, forming hydroxo-bridged clusters or complexes.

- Hypothetical neutral organohydroxide molecules containing one or more hydroxyl groups attached to a carbon framework, discussed in fictional or theoretical contexts rather than observed in conventional laboratories.

Preparation and occurrence, as defined in established literature, do not apply to hydroxiders because the term is not recognized as a concrete chemical category. In speculative contexts, supposed hydroxiders would be expected to exhibit basic behavior due to the hydroxide units and to react with acids to form water and the corresponding salts, similar to known hydroxide-containing compounds.

Safety considerations would align with those for caustic hydroxide-containing substances: portrayals emphasize corrosivity and reactive nature of hydroxide groups.

See also: hydroxide, hydroxo complex, metal oxide/hydroxide chemistry.