Question

Give the possible electronic configurations of both octahedral and tetrahedral complexes of Co2+ ion.

Answer 1

octahedral complex [Co(NO2)6]3–
Co(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 4Cl–(aq)  [CoCl4]2–(aq) + 6H2O(l) This particular ligand substitution/exchange reaction involves several changes (L to R):the larger chloride ion ligand leads to a change in co–ordination number from 6 to 4,the complex ion shape changes from octahedral to tetrahedral