For "pentamminechlorochromium(III+) nitrate"...can you...?

"a. Give the d-electron count at the transition metal centre."
"b. Predict the spin state of the d-electrons."
"c. Identify the outer sphere ions?"
"d. Predict whether the complex is paramagnetic,"
"e. Give a possible coordination sphere isomer."

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 8, 2016

We start with a Cr^(3+) metal ion, that is surrounded by (coordinated to) 6 ligands in an octahedral array, to give [Cr(NH_3)_5Cl]^(2+)(NO_3^-)_2

Explanation:

a. The transition metal ion Cr^(3+) has a d^3 electron count at the metal centre.
b. These d^3 electrons are all unpaired.
c. The outer sphere ligands are reasonably the nitrate counter ions; as written the nitrates are not coordinated to the metal.
d. The complex is certainly a paramagnet. How do I know this?
e. For a coordination sphere isomer, simply replace one of the octahedrally coordinate ligands (ammine or chloro) with the counter ion, nitrato: i.e. [Cr(NH_3)_5(NO_3)]^(2+).

Related questions
See all questions in Ionic Compounds
Impact of this question
2172 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License