Coordination Compounds - Core Concepts for Class 12 Chemistry
What are Coordination Compounds?
- Lewis Acid and Base Concept: Central metal atom acts as a Lewis acid (accepts electron pairs) while ligands act as Lewis bases (donate electron pairs)
- Coordinate Bond: A bond formed by complete transfer of one or more electron pairs from ligand to central atom
- Transition Metals: Form coordination compounds readily due to vacant d-orbitals and small effective nuclear charge (high charge-to-size ratio)
Important Terminology
Denticity
- Unidentate: Ligand binds through a single donor atom (forms one coordinate bond)
- Examples: Cl⁻, NH₃, H₂O
- Bidentate: Ligand binds through two donor atoms
- Example: Ethylene diamine (en)
- Polydentate: Ligand binds through multiple donor atoms
- Example: EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetate) - forms 6 coordinate bonds
Chelation
- When a polydentate ligand binds through 2+ donor atoms forming a ring structure
- Forms stable chelate complexes
Coordination Number Calculation
- Formula: Coordination number = (Number of ligands × Denticity)
- Example: [PtCl₂(en)₂] → (2 × 1) + (2 × 2) = 6
- Important: Coordination number ≠ Number of ligands
Werner's Coordination Theory
| Property | Primary Valency | Secondary Valency | |----------|-----------------|-------------------| | Concept | Oxidation state | Coordination number | | Satisfied by | Negative ions | Neutral molecules or negative ions | | Nature | Non-directional, ionizable | Directional, fixed geometry |
Example: [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl₃
- Primary valency: +3 (oxidation state of Co)
- Secondary valency: 6 (coordination number)
Limitations of Werner's Theory
- Couldn't explain electronic configuration of metals in complexes
- Failed to explain color of coordination compounds
- Couldn't explain magnetic properties properly
- Did not explain directional nature of bonds
Valence Bond Theory (VBT)
Key Points
- Hybridization: Metal uses hybridized orbitals with vacant d-orbitals
- Coordinate Bond Formation: Hybrid orbitals overlap with ligand orbitals that donate electron pairs
- Inner vs Outer Orbital Complexes:
- Inner: Uses (n-1)d orbitals (low spin)
- Outer: Uses nd orbitals (high spin)
Determining Geometry and Unpaired Electrons
Example 1: [CoF₆]³⁻
- Co³⁺: 3d⁶ configuration
- F⁻ is weak field ligand → high spin
- Hybridization: sp³d² (outer orbital)
- Unpaired electrons: 4
- Geometry: Octahedral
Example 2: [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻
- Ni²⁺: 3d⁸
- CN⁻ is strong field ligand
- Hybridization: dsp² (square planar)
- Unpaired electrons: 0 → Diamagnetic
Limitations of VBT
- No quantitative interpretation of magnetic data
- Cannot explain color of complexes
- Doesn't explain thermodynamic/kinetic stability
- Cannot distinguish between weak and strong field ligands
Crystal Field Theory (CFT)
d-Orbital Splitting in Octahedral Field
- d-orbitals split into two sets:
- t₂g (lower energy): dxy, dyz, dxz
- e_g (higher energy): dx²-y², dz²
- Splitting pattern:
- t₂g: Lower by 2/5 Δ₀
- e_g: Higher by 3/5 Δ₀
For a more detailed explanation of d-orbital splitting with easy tricks, see Crystal Field Theory Explained: Super Easy Trick for Octahedral & Tetrahedral Complexes.
Spectrochemical Series
Weak field → Strong field
I⁻ < Br⁻ < Cl⁻ < F⁻ < OH⁻ < H₂O < NH₃ < en < NO₂⁻ < CN⁻ < CO
Factors Affecting Crystal Field Splitting (Δ)
- Nature of metal ion: Δ ∝ Principal quantum number (3d < 4d < 5d)
- Oxidation state: Higher oxidation state → Larger Δ
- Nature of ligand: Strong field → Large Δ
Magnetic Properties
Spin-only Magnetic Moment Formula
μ = √[n(n+2)] BM
where n = number of unpaired electrons
Example: Co²⁺ (3d⁷)
- Unpaired electrons: 3
- μ = √[3(3+2)] = √15 = 3.87 BM
Isomerism in Coordination Compounds
Structural Isomerism
- Linkage Isomerism: Ligand can coordinate through different atoms (e.g., NO₂⁻ vs ONO⁻)
- Coordination Isomerism: Exchange of ligands between cation and anion
- Hydrate Isomerism: Different number of water molecules directly bonded
Stereoisomerism
-
Geometrical Isomerism:
- Square planar: [MA₂B₂] shows cis-trans isomerism
- Octahedral: Various possible arrangements
-
Optical Isomerism:
- Non-superimposable mirror images
- Requires asymmetric molecular structure
- Square planar complexes generally don't show optical isomerism
Applications of Coordination Compounds
-
Extraction of Metals:
- Silver and gold extraction using cyanide complexes
- Nickel purification via carbonyl complex
-
Medicinal Uses:
- Chelating agents for heavy metal poisoning (e.g., EDTA)
-
Analytical Chemistry:
- Qualitative and quantitative analysis
- Detection of metal ions
-
Industrial Applications:
- Commercial coloring agents (e.g., Prussian blue)
- Catalysts in chemical reactions
Important Questions for Board Exam
Q1: Calculate coordination number and oxidation state of Pt in [PtCl₂(en)₂]
- Coordination number: 2(Cl) + 2(en × 2 denticity) = 6
- Oxidation state: x + (-1 × 2) + 0 = 0 → x = +2
Q2: Why is [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻ diamagnetic while [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺ is paramagnetic?
- Ni²⁺: 3d⁸
- [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻: CN⁻ is strong field → dsp² hybridization → 0 unpaired electrons → Diamagnetic
- [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺: H₂O is weak field → sp³d² hybridization → 2 unpaired electrons → Paramagnetic
Q3: Write hybridization and number of unpaired electrons in [CoF₆]³⁻
- Hybridization: sp³d²
- Unpaired electrons: 4
For a complete revision of related topics like solutions, electrochemistry, and chemical kinetics, check out the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry: Full Revision of Solutions, Electrochemistry & Chemical Kinetics guide.
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number it's fine coordination number and oxidation state of pla yeah Platinum
it's a neutral okay neutral zero okay neutral Z so Theus
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compound okay so it does not give a quantitative interpretation of thermodynamic and kinetic stability of
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comp and number so that's answer sp3 D2 and number of unpaired
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so there is noal so paramagnetic nature
next it's a strong field Li it's fine next Nel 2 plus strong f next 1 2 3 4 5
six so D SP2 so D SP2 there is no PA electron so this is diamagnetic so are reasons okay so
that's it for today my dear friends I hope and don't forget numerics as well as questions
soling sessions short s so see you there okay so don't forget and share with your friends see
you in one another session until then your favorite educator bye thank you
The spin-only magnetic moment formula is μ = √[n(n+2)] Bohr Magnetons (BM), where n is the number of unpaired electrons. For example, Co²⁺ with 3 unpaired electrons gives μ = √[3(3+2)] = √15 ≈ 3.87 BM, which helps predict and interpret magnetic properties of complexes.
Primary valency corresponds to the oxidation state of the central metal atom and is satisfied by negative ions, being non-directional and ionizable. Secondary valency corresponds to the coordination number and is satisfied by neutral molecules or negative ions, being directional and fixed in geometry, thus determining the complex's spatial arrangement.
The coordination number is calculated by multiplying the number of each type of ligand by its denticity and summing them. For example, in [PtCl₂(en)₂], there are 2 monodentate Cl⁻ ligands (2 × 1) and 2 bidentate en ligands (2 × 2), giving a total coordination number of 6. This is distinct from just counting the number of ligands.
Ni²⁺ has a 3d⁸ configuration. In [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻, CN⁻ is a strong field ligand, causing pairing of electrons and dsp² hybridization, resulting in no unpaired electrons and diamagnetism. In [Ni(H₂O)₆]²⁺, H₂O is a weak field ligand, leading to sp³d² hybridization and 2 unpaired electrons, making it paramagnetic.
Crystal field theory explains color through d-orbital splitting in an octahedral field: d-orbitals split into lower-energy t₂g and higher-energy e_g sets with a separation of Δ₀. When visible light is absorbed, electrons transition between these split d-orbitals, and the complementary color is transmitted, giving the compound its observed color.
Inner orbital complexes use (n-1)d orbitals for hybridization, are typically low spin, and formed with strong field ligands. Outer orbital complexes use nd orbitals, are high spin, and formed with weak field ligands. For example, [CoF₆]³⁻ (F⁻ weak field) uses sp³d² outer hybridization with 4 unpaired electrons, while [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ (NH₃ strong field) uses d²sp³ inner hybridization with 0 unpaired electrons.
These metals are extracted by forming soluble coordination complexes with cyanide ions. For example, in the cyanide process, silver or gold ore is treated with NaCN solution, forming [Ag(CN)₂]⁻ or [Au(CN)₂]⁻ complexes, which are then reduced with zinc to obtain the pure metal. This method leverages the stability of these complexes to separate them from impurities.
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