Oxidation State Determination
Easychemistry
Oxidation state of cobalt in [Co(en)2Cl2]Cl is:
Select the correct option:
Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
+3
- Ligand Charges:
- ethylenediamine (en) is a neutral bidentate ligand (charge =0).
- Chlorine (Cl) inside the coordination sphere acts as a ligand (charge =−1).
- Chlorine (Cl) outside the sphere is a counter-ion (charge =−1).
- Sum of Charges: The sum of oxidation states of all atoms in a neutral compound must be zero.
- Equation: x(for Co)+2×0(for en)+2×(−1)(for Cl inside)+1×(−1)(for Cl outside)=0.
- Calculation: x+0−2−1=0⟹x−3=0⟹x=+3.
- Result: Cobalt is in the +3 oxidation state.
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- coordination compounds
- Topic
- oxidation state determination
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
+3
- Ligand Charges:
- ethylenediamine (en) is a neutral bidentate ligand (charge =0).
- Chlorine (Cl) inside the coordination sphere acts as a ligand (charge =−1).
- Chlorine (Cl) outside the sphere is a counter-ion (charge =−1).
- Sum of Charges: The sum of oxidation states of all atoms in a neutral compound must be zero.
- Equation: x(for Co)+2×0(for en)+2×(−1)(for Cl inside)+1×(−1)(for Cl outside)=0.
- Calculation: x+0−2−1=0⟹x−3=0⟹x=+3.
- Result: Cobalt is in the +3 oxidation state.
This easy difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter coordination compounds, covering the topic of oxidation state determination. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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