Why is flerovium predicted to have a stable +2 oxidation state?
Flerovium is predicted to have a stable +2 oxidation state due to the periodic trends observed within the carbon group. As the atomic number increases within this group, elements exhibit a distinct tendency to shift from a +4, or tetrapositive, oxidation state toward a +2, or dipositive, state.1
This trend is well-documented in the group's lighter members: while carbon and silicon are very stable in the +4 state, germanium shows a mix of states, and tin displays roughly equal stability between the two. By the time the group reaches lead, the +2 state becomes dominant, with only weak +4 properties.1
By extrapolating these chemical properties and thermodynamic data to the seventh row of the periodic table, scientists predict that flerovium will follow this pattern, with the +2 state being its most stable oxidation state. This prediction is further supported by valence bond theory.1