CO-ORDINATION CHEMISTRY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ON VBT AND CFT:

1. Explain hybridisation in the complex which contains hexacyanidoferrate(III) ion [Fe(CN)6]3–.

ANSWER: d2sp3 hybridisation

2. Based on the valence bond theory describe the formation and nature of
hexaamminecobalt(III) chloride.
ANSWER: hybridization- d2sp3 . Here NH3 acts as a strong field ligand.(spin pairing takes place
of 3d electrons). Inner orbital complex. Diamagnetic complex due to the absence of unpaired
electrons.

4. Using crystal field theory, draw energy level diagram, write electronic configuration of the
central metal atom/ion and determine the magnetic moment value in the following :

(i) [CoF6]3–, (ii) [FeF6]3–, (iii) [Fe(CN)6]4–

ANSWER:
5. Write the hybridization , number of unpaired electrons and magnetic behaviour of the complex,
[CoF6]3–(hexafluoridocobaltate(III) ion).

ANSWER: Fluoride(F-) acts as a weak field ligand , hence is unable to undergo spin pairing of 3d
electrons of Co3+. Hybridisation-sp3d2 , no. of unpaired electrons is 4 . Hence due to the presence
of unpaired electrons the complex is paramagnetic in nature.

6. Predict the number of unpaired electrons in the square planar [Pt(CN)4]2– ion.
ANSWER: CN− being a strong field ligand causes the spin pairing of unpaired electrons . Hence, there
are no unpaired electrons in complex.

7. Write the hybridisation and magnetic character of [Co(C2O4)3]3–.(At. no. of Co = 27)

ANSWER: Hybridisation – d2sp3 (C2O43- acts a strong field ligand). Due to absence of unpaired
electrons it is diamagnetic in nature.

8. Why is [NiCl4]2– paramagnetic but [Ni(CO)4] is diamagnetic? (At. no. : Cr = 24, Co =

27, Ni = 28)

ANSWER: In[NiCl4]2– the spin pairing of unpaired 3d electrons of Ni2+ does not take place.
Hence due to the presence of unpaired electrons in [NiCl4]2− it is paramagnetic.
2–
In[[Ni(CO)4]] the spin pairing of unpaired 3d electrons of Ni2+ takes place. Hence due to the
absence of unpaired electrons in [[Ni(CO)4]2− it is diamagnetic.

9. Why is [Fe(CN)6]4– diamagnetic while [FeF6]3– is paramagnetic?

ANSWER: F-is a weak field ligand and it does not cause the spin pairing of unpaired 3d electrons
of Fe3+. Hence due to the presence of unpaired electrons in [FeF6]3– it is paramagnetic. CN- is a
strong field ligand and it causes the spin pairing of unpaired 3d electrons of Fe2+. Hence due to the
absence of unpaired electrons in [FeCN6]4– it is diamagnetic.

10. Out of [CoF6]3– and [Co(en)3]3+, which one complex is:-

(i)paramagnetic (ii)more stable (iii)inner orbital complex and (iv)high spin complex

ANSWER: [CoF6]3– − paramagnetic , high spin complex and [Co(en)3]3+- more stable , inner
orbital complex.

11. Out of [CoF6]3– and [Co(C2O4)3]3–, which one complex is

(i) diamagnetic (ii) more stable (iii) outer orbital complex (iv) low spin complex?

ANSWER: [CoF6]3– − outer orbital complex and [Co(C2O4)3]3– − more stable , diamagnetic
,low spin complex.

12. For the complex [Fe(H2O)6]3+, write the hybridization, magnetic character and spin of the
complex.

ANSWER: Since water is the weak field ligand, therefore, no spin pairing of 3d electrons takes place.
Hence due to the presence of 5 unpaired electrons in Fe3+ it is strongly paramagnetic and high spin.
Hybridization is sp3d2.

13. Write the hybridization and shape of the following complexes:

(i) [CoF6]3– (ii) [Ni(CN)4]2–

ANSWER:
Fluoride(F-) is a weak field ligand and Cyanide(CN-) is a strong field ligand.
14.Write the state of hybridization, shape and IUPAC name of the complex [Co(NH3)6]3+.

ANSWER: NH3 is a strong field ligand . Spin pairing of 3d electrons of Co3+ takes place. Hence
hybridization -d2sp3 , shape-octahedral , IUPAC name- hexaammine cobalt(III) ion.

14. On the basis of crystal field theory, write the electronic configuration for d4 with a strong field
ligand for which Δo > .

ANSWER: t2g4 eg0.

15. A solution of [Ni(H2O)6]2+ is green but a solution of [Ni(CO)4] is colourless. Explain.

ANSWER: In [Ni(H2O)6]2+, H2O is a weak field ligand. Therefore, no spin pairing of 3d electrons
takes place and there are unpaired electrons in Ni2+. In this complex the unpaired electrons
undergo d−d transition. Hence, Ni(H2O)6]2+ is coloured.

In [Ni(CO)4], CO is a strong field ligand. Therefore, spin pairing of 3d electrons and 4s takes place
and there are no unpaired electrons in Ni. In this complex due to absence of unpaired electrons the
complex is colourless.

16. Why is the complex [Co(en )3]3+ more stable than [CoF6]3– ?

ANSWER: en is a bidentate ligand and forms a chelate complex .Due to phenomenon of chelation
[Co(en )3]3+is stable.

17. Using valence bond theory, predict the hybridization and magnetic character of the complex:
[Ni(CO)4] .

ANSWER: (Note: From 4s electrons are paired with 3d)

18. Why [Co(en )3]3+ is a more stable complex than [Co(NH3)6]3+ ?

ANSWER: en is a bidentate ligand and forms a chelate complex . Due to phenomenon of chelation
[Co(en )3]3+is stable.

19. What is the relation between the crystal field splitting energy for octahedral (Δo) and tetrahedral
(Δt) complexes ?

ANSWER:

20. Why a solution of [Ni(H2O)6]2+ is green while a solution of [Ni(CN)4]2– is colourless?

ANSWER: In [Ni(H2O)6]2+, H2O is a weak field ligand. Therefore, no spin pairing of 3d electrons
takes place and there are unpaired electrons in Ni2+. In this complex the unpaired electrons
undergo d−d transition. Hence, Ni(H2O)6]2+ is coloured.

In [Ni(CN)4]2-, CN- is a strong field ligand. Therefore, spin pairing of 3d electrons and 4s takes
place and there are no unpaired electrons in Ni. In this complex due to absence of unpaired
electrons the complex is colourless.

21. On the basis of crystal field theory, write the electronic configuration of d4 ion if Δ0 < .
ANSWER:t2g3eg1

24.[Ni(CN)4]2–with square-planar structure is diamagnetic and [NiCl4]2– with tetrahedral

geometry is paramagnetic. Give reason to support the statement.

ANSWER:
25. On the basis of crystal field theory, write the electronic configuration of d5 ion if Δo < .

ANSWER: t2g3eg2

26. Using crystal field theory, write the electronic configuration of d5 ion, if Δo > .

ANSWER: t2g5eg0

27. Give the IUPAC name and electronic configuration of central metal atom in terms of t2g and
eg of K4[Mn(CN)6].
ANSWER: K 4[Mn(CN)6 ] : Potassium hexacyanomanganate (II)
Oxidation state = + 2
Electronic configuration = d 5 : t 52g
Coordination number = 6
Shape : octahedral
Stereochemistry : optically inactive
Magnetic moment.   n(n  2)
 1(1  2)
 3
= 1.732 BM

28. The CFSE of [CoCl6]3– is 18000cm–1. Calculate the CFSE for [CoCl4]–.

ANSWER:

Δt = 4/9 x 18000 = 8000 cm-1

29. Using Crystal Field Theory, write the electronic configuration of iron ion in the following
complex ion. Also predict its magnetic behaviour: [Fe(H2O)6]2+.

ANSWER: Magnetic behaviour – paramagnetic . Electronic configuration- t2g4 eg2 (Note: H2O is
a weak field ligand and therefore Δo < . )

30. Calculate the spin only magnetic moment of [Cu(NH3)4]2+ ion.

ANSWER: The magnetic moment of [Cu(NH3)4]2+ was found to be 1.73 BM. The number of
unpaired electrons in the complex is 1.

31. Using Valence bond theory, explain the following in relation to the paramagnetic complex
[Mn(CN)6]3–: (a) type of hybridization (b) magnetic moment value (c) type of complex –
inner or outer orbital complex.

ANSWER: a) Type of hybridization-d2sp3

b) no. of unpaired electrons -2 hence the magnetic moment value is 2.87BM

c)type of complex- inner orbital complex.

32. [Ni(H2O)6]2+ is green in colour whereas [Ni(H2O)4(en)]2+ is blue in colour, give reason in
support of your answer.
ANSWER: H2O is weak field ligand , which causes small splitting of d orbitals , leading to the d-
d transition corresponding to green colour, however due to the presence of (en) which is a strong
field ligand, the splitting is increased leading to the d-d transition corresponding to blue colour.

33. Write the formula and hybridisation of the following compound : tris(ethane-1,2-
diamine)cobalt(III) sulphate.

ANSWER: Formula of the compound is [Co(en)3 ]2  SO4  3

The hybridization of the compound is : d sp

2 3

34.In a coordination entity, the electronic configuration of the central metal ion is t3 e1. Is the
2g g
coordination compound a high spin or low spin complex? and Draw the crystal field splitting
diagram for the above complex.

ANSWER: High spin complex

35.Explain [Co(NH3)6]2+ is an inner orbital complex whereas [Ni(NH3)6]2+ is an outer orbital

complex.

ANSWER: [Co(NH3)6]2+ is an inner orbital complex due to d2sp3 hybridisation whereas

[Ni(NH3)6]2+ is an outer orbital complex due to sp3d2 hybridisation.

36.[Fe(H2O)6]3+ is strongly paramagnetic whereas [Fe(CN)6]3- is weakly paramagnetic. Explain.

ANSWER: Since water is the weak field ligand, therefore, no spin pairing of 3d electrons takes
place. Hence due to the presence of 5 unpaired electrons in Fe3+ it is strongly paramagnetic. CN-
is the strong field ligand, therefore, spin pairing of 3d electrons takes place. Hence due to the
presence of 1 unpaired electrons in Fe3+ it is weakly paramagnetic.

37. The hexaaquamanganese (II) ion contains five unpaired electrons while the hexacyano ion
contains only one unpaired electron. Explain using crystal field theory.
ANSWER: Mn(II) has an electronic configuration of 3d54s0. In the case of hexaaquamanganese (II) ion
the ligand attached to metal is water which is a weak field ligand and is not able to pair up the electrons of
3d subshell and the configuration is t2g3 and eg2. whereas in the case of hexacyano ion the CN− is a
strong field ligand and it causes pairing of electrons in the d orbitals and hence thee exist only one
unpaired electron in t2g eg .
5 0

38. Why low spin tetrahedral complexes are rarely observed?

ANSWER: Low spin tetrahedral complexes are rarely observed due to very low CFSE which is not
able to pair up the electrons

39. Why geometrical isomerism is not possible for tetrahedral complexes?

ANSWER: Tetrahedral complexes do not show geometrical isomerism because of the following
two reasons: because all the four ligands are adjacent or equidistant to one another in the
tetrahedral complex. because the relative positions of donor atoms of ligands attached to the central
atom are the same with respect to each other.

40. Which form will show optical isomerism in a coordination entity [PtCl2(en)2] and why?
ANSWER: cis form because it gives no-superimposable mirror images.

41. .Write the IUPAC name of the linkage isomer of

[Co(NH3)5(NO2)]Cl2?ANSWER:

42. Write the IUPAC name of the co-ordination isomer of [Cr(NH3)6][Co(CN)6]?

ANSWER: The co-ordinate isomer of the complex is [Co(NH3)6][Cr(CN)6] and its IUPAC name is
hexaammine cobalt(III) hexacyano chromate(III)

43. Write the IUPAC name of the coordination isomer of [Co(NH3)5(SO4)]Br?

ANSWER: The IUPAC name of the complex [Co(NH3)5Br]SO4 is pentammine bromido cobalt (III)
sulphate. Its ionisation isomer is [Co(NH3)5SO4]Br and its IUPAC name is
pentammine sulphato cobalt(III) bromide

44. Why [Ti(H2O)6]Cl3 on heating becomes colourless?

ANSWER: This is due to the fact that in the absence of ligand, crystal field splitting does not occur and
hence the substance is colourless.