oxidem

Oxidem is a term used in some contexts to refer to oxide compounds, defined as chemical substances composed of oxygen chemically bonded to one or more other elements. The category includes binary oxides such as silicon dioxide (SiO2) and metal oxides like iron(III) oxide, as well as more complex oxides formed from several elements, including perovskites and spinels. In standard chemistry, the preferred term is oxide rather than oxidem.

Formation and classification: Oxidem compounds form when elements react with oxygen or when precursors are oxidized. They can be crystalline or amorphous. Classification follows acid-base behavior into basic oxides (mostly metal oxides that form bases), acidic oxides (nonmetal oxides), and amphoteric oxides that display both properties. Structural distinctions include ionic oxidem with predominantly ionic bonds, covalent oxidem with shared electrons, and specialized subgroups such as peroxides and superoxides that contain O–O bonds.

Properties: Physical properties vary widely. Many metal oxidem are insulating or semiconducting, though some are conductive at high temperatures. They often exhibit high thermal stability, which makes oxidem useful in ceramics and refractories. Electronic, catalytic, and optical properties depend on composition and crystal structure.

Occurrences and applications: Oxidem occur naturally as minerals (for example hematite Fe2O3, corundum Al2O3, quartz SiO2) and as industrial materials. They are used as pigments (Fe2O3), catalysts (TiO2, V2O5), in cement and glass production (CaO, SiO2), in electronics and energy storage (ZnO, SnO2, perovskite oxides), and in environmental remediation.

Terminology: The term oxide is the standard name in modern chemistry; "oxidem" appears in some historical or specialized texts and is not widely used in contemporary literature.