In the compound K[Co(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂] (where C₂O₄^2- = oxalate) the oxidation number and coordination number of cobalt are ________ and ________, respectively. A) -1; 4 B) -1; 6 C) +3; 4 D) +3; 6 E) +1; 6

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

- The oxidation number of oxalate (C₂O₄^2-) is -2. Since there are two oxalate ligands in the compound, the total oxidation number contributed by them is -4. The compound is a neutral compound, which means the sum of the oxidation numbers of all the atoms in the compound should be zero. Therefore, the oxidation number of cobalt can be calculated as: -4 (from two oxalate ligands) + x (from cobalt) + 1 (from the potassium cation) + 0 (from the oxygen atoms in H₂O ligand) = 0 Solving for x, we get x = +3. - The coordination number of cobalt in the given compound can be calculated as the sum of the number of atoms directly bonded to the cobalt ion and the number of lone pairs of electrons present on the cobalt ion. In the given compound, each oxalate ligand is bidentate, which means it can form two bonds with the cobalt ion. Therefore, each oxalate ligand occupies two coordination sites on the cobalt ion. The H₂O ligand is monodentate, which means it can form only one bond with the cobalt ion. Therefore, it occupies one coordination site on the cobalt ion. The total number of coordination sites occupied by all the ligands in the given compound = (2x2) + 1 = 5 Therefore, the coordination number of cobalt in the given compound is 6 (since cobalt has six coordination sites available for bonding).

In the Compound K[Co(C2O4)2(H2O)2] (Where C2O42- = Oxalate) the Oxidation

In the Compound K[Co(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂] (Where C₂O₄^2- = Oxalate) the Oxidation