Question

1. Write down the IUPAC name of

• K₄[Fe(CN)₆]
• [Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂]

2. On the basis of VBT, explain why [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺ is strongly paramagnetic while [Fe(CN)₆]^3- is weakly paramagnetic.

Answer 1

1. The IUPAC names are :

• Potassium hexacyanoferrate(II)
• Diamminedichloridoplatinum(II)

2.

In [Fe(H₂O)₆]^2-, iron undergoes sp³d² hybridisation (inner orbital complex). It has four unpaired electrons and hence it is highly paramagnetic.

In [Fe(CN)₆]³⁺. iron undergoes d²sp³ hybridisation (outer orbital complex). It has only one unpaired electron. Hence, it is less paramagnetic.