Question

Dear mates,

I request you to please take your time and help me for a minute.
Why do we write chemical compounds inside brackets

Example:
[Ag (NH3)2]CL
[Zn (NH3)4](OH)2

Writing within and without does it matter? How,please clear my doubt.

I would be very faithful to your help,

Thanking you,

Delightfulsoul

Answer 1

It isn't that we write ALL the chemical compounds within brackets.

It's only the complex/co-ordination compounds that we write in brackets.

The aim is to separate the two valancies of the metal atom in a coordination compound namely, the primary and secondary valency.

"Generally" primary valency is written outside square brackets and secondary valency is written inside square brackets, in circular brackets. Example : [Ag(NH3)2]Cl.

Here primary valency = one chloride ion

Secondary valency = two ammonia molecules.

Hope this helps you.