Which is the most plausible and consistent combination of hybrid orbital notation and magnetic/geometric description of [CoF6]3-?
A) sp2d/diamagnetic/square planar
B) sp2d/paramagnetic/square planar
C) sp3d2/diamagnetic/octahedral
D) sp3d2/paramagnetic/octahedral
E) sp2d/paramagnetic/tetrahedral

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The central metal atom Co has 7 valence electrons (2 in the 4s orbital, 2 in the 4p orbital, and 3 in the 3d orbital). The six fluorine atoms each contribute one electron to the octahedral compound [CoF6]3-, resulting in a total of 13 valence electrons. To determine the hybridization, we can use the fact that 6 of the 13 valence electrons will be used to form 3 lone pair-bond pair hybrid orbitals (lp-bp) and 3 bond pair-bond pair hybrid orbitals (bp-bp) around the Co atom. Therefore, the hybridization is sp3d2. The octahedral geometry corresponds to sp3d2 hybridization. Since the compound has an odd number of electrons, it is paramagnetic. Therefore, the most plausible and consistent combination of hybrid orbital notation and magnetic/geometric description of [CoF6]3- is sp3d2/paramagnetic/octahedral.

Which Is the Most Plausible and Consistent Combination of Hybrid