The word "Cobaltous" is spelled with the letters "c," "o," "b," "a," "l," "t," "o," and "u," in that order. Its pronunciation can be represented phonetically as /kəʊˈbɔːltəs/. In this phonetic transcription, the stress falls on the second syllable, "balt." The "o" in both syllables is pronounced as a long "o" sound, while the "a" in the second syllable is pronounced as a short "a" sound. The final "s" is pronounced as a voiceless "s" sound.
Cobaltous is an adjective that is derived from the chemical element cobalt, which is symbolized as Co on the periodic table. It is used to describe substances or compounds containing cobalt in its +2 oxidation state.
In the context of chemistry, cobaltous refers to the divalent state of cobalt. When cobalt loses two electrons, it attains a +2 charge, resulting in the cobaltous ion (Co2+). This ion has two fewer electrons in its outermost energy level compared to the neutral cobalt atom, giving it a positive charge.
Cobaltous compounds exhibit specific characteristics and properties. They often appear as blue-green solids or aqueous solutions, depending on the compound and the presence of other elements. Cobaltous salts are known for their versatility and are widely used in various industries, including pigment production, ceramics, and electronics.
The term cobaltous is frequently used in chemical equations and naming conventions to specifically indicate the presence of cobalt in its +2 oxidation state. It helps distinguish cobaltous compounds from those in other oxidation states, such as cobaltic (+3) or cobalt (0).
Overall, cobaltous refers to the state or nature of cobalt when it is in its +2 oxidation state, and it plays a crucial role in various chemical reactions, industrial applications, and scientific studies involving cobalt compounds.
The word "cobaltous" is derived from the element "cobalt", which is a metallic chemical element with the symbol Co and atomic number 27. The term "cobalt" itself has its roots in the German word "kobold", which means "goblin" or "evil spirit". This German term was used historically because cobalt-containing ores were often associated with arsenic, giving off toxic and harmful fumes during the smelting process. Eventually, the element cobalt was identified and named after the "kobold" due to its association with these troublesome ores. The suffix "-ous" in "cobaltous" is a chemical nomenclature denoting the lower oxidation state (valence) of an element, indicating that cobalt in this context has a valence of +2.