This figure, across an important part of the periodic table, shows which elements make oxide minerals and which only make oxo-complexes in solution and/or gaseous oxides. Arranging the periodic table in terms of ions, as in the Earth Scientist's Periodic Table of the Elements and Their Ions, divides these groups conveniently: ions of low ionic potential make no oxides at all, ions of intermediate potential can make oxide minerals, and ions of high ionic potential can only make gaseous oxides or solutes.
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