Oxidic

Oxidic is an adjective used to describe substances that are based on oxide groups (oxygen combined with another element) or that have oxide as a predominant structural motif. In practice, oxidic compounds include oxides and oxide-rich materials in chemistry, materials science, and geology. The term is often used to distinguish oxides from other oxygen-containing species such as peroxides or oxoacids, though usage can vary by field.

In chemistry and solid-state chemistry, oxidic compounds typically feature oxide anions (O2−) bonded to metal or metalloid cations. Common examples include binary oxides such as ferric oxide (Fe2O3), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and alumina (Al2O3). Some oxides exhibit nonstoichiometry, with oxygen vacancies or variable oxidation states that influence electrical, catalytic, or magnetic properties.

In materials science, oxidic materials form a large class of ceramics and functional materials. Oxide ions form three-dimensional lattices in structures such as perovskites (ABO3), spinels (AB2O4), and ferrites (MFe2O4). They are valued for thermal stability, hardness, and wide-ranging electronic and ionic conductivity. Applications include catalysis, coatings, dielectrics, and energy-related devices.

In mineralogy, oxide minerals constitute a major class defined by oxygen forming the anionic framework with metals or metalloids. Common examples are hematite (Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4), corundum (Al2O3), and rutile (TiO2). These minerals can weather to oxides or occur as primary crustal components.

Etymology: oxidic derives from oxide with the suffix -ic, reflecting its relation to oxide chemistry and mineralogy.