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Zintl phase
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Chemistry/SrNqkGVm">chemistry</a>, a Zintl phase is a product of a <a href="/facts/Chemical_reaction/GpqWlKrz">reaction</a> between a group 1 (<a href="/facts/Alkali_metal/IkWbCLk2">alkali metal</a>) or group 2 (<a href="/facts/Alkaline_earth_metal/Ts4U5zIe">alkaline earth metal</a>) and main group <a href="/facts/Metal/PT8hNX6R">metal</a> or <a href="/facts/Metalloid/uMFVXuTq">metalloid</a> (from groups 13, 14, 15, or 16). It is characterized by intermediate <a href="/facts/Metallic_bonding/Ht958du4">metallic</a>/<a href="/facts/Ionic_compound/jB9nMfrE">ionic</a> bonding. Zintl phases are a subgroup of <a href="/facts/Brittleness/cn27H2vg">brittle</a>, high-melting <a href="/facts/Intermetallic_compounds/nnzksayl">intermetallic compounds</a> that are <a href="/facts/Diamagnetism/dgFavn9K">diamagnetic</a> or exhibit temperature-independent <a href="/facts/Paramagnetism/vj1SMbbp">paramagnetism</a> and are poor <a href="/facts/Electrical_conductor/BSuyupLP">conductors</a> or <a href="/facts/Semiconductor/zFf3mGTE">semiconductors</a>. </p><p>This type of solid is named after German chemist <a href="/facts/Eduard_Zintl/KtBPmD9D">Eduard Zintl</a> who investigated them in the 1930s. The term "Zintl Phases" was first used by <a href="/facts/Fritz_Laves/UpqMG6FJ">Laves</a> in 1941. In his early studies, Zintl noted that there was an atomic volume contraction upon the formation of these products and realized that this could indicate <a href="/facts/Cation/wrbwhF3z">cation</a> formation. He suggested that the structures of these phases were ionic, with complete electron transfer from the more <a href="/facts/Electropositive/H7Vq7Uah">electropositive</a> metal to the more <a href="/facts/Electronegativity/H7Vq7Uah">electronegative</a> main group element. The structure of the <a href="/facts/Ion/3bePpDna">anion</a> within the phase is then considered on the basis of the resulting electronic state. These ideas are further developed in the Zintl-Klemm-Busmann concept, where the polyanion structure should be similar to that of the isovalent element. Further, the anionic sublattice can be isolated as polyanions (Zintl ions) in solution and are the basis of a rich subfield of <a href="/facts/Main-group_element/2AG3QxJl">main group</a> inorganic chemistry. </p>