How do we know which iron carbonyl is produced in a reaction?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 24, 2016

I am not being facetious when I say that you do the reaction and identify the products.

Explanation:

Chemistry is an experimental science. Rationalization and theory follows experiment, not vice versa. There are are several zerovalent iron carbonyl complexes, i.e. #Fe_3CO_12# or #Fe(CO)_5#, a liquid, are commonly known.

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