Q.Which of the following complexes are heteroleptic?
🔒You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.
🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Coordination Compound Nomenclature
Coordination Compound Nomenclature: From Intuition to Precision
Imagine you're naming a person. You'd say "Ravi Sharma" — family name first, then given name. Coordination compounds have a similar logic, but the "family name" is the metal, and the "given names" are the groups attached to it. The rules are just a systematic way of writing that name so any chemist anywhere can draw the exact structure from it.
The Core Idea
A coordination compound has a central metal ion surrounded by molecules or ions called ligands. Think of the metal as the nucleus and ligands as planets orbiting it. The entire assembly (metal + ligands) is called the coordination sphere, and it's written inside square brackets: [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl₃.
The nomenclature rules tell you:
- What order to list things
- How to name each ligand
- How to indicate the metal's oxidation state
- How to handle the counter-ions outside the brackets
The Rules, Step by Step
1. Cation before anion (just like NaCl is sodium chloride)
If the complex ion is positive, it's named first. If it's negative, it's named last. Simple.
2. Within the coordination sphere: ligands first, then metal
This is the big rule. Ligands are named before the metal, in alphabetical order (ignoring prefixes like di-, tri-).
Alphabetical order is based on the ligand's name, not its formula. So NH₃ (ammine) comes before H₂O (aqua), even though N comes after H in the alphabet.
3. Naming ligands
| Ligand type | Name | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral molecule (NH₃) | ammine | [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ → hexaamminecobalt(III) |
| Neutral molecule (H₂O) | aqua | [Cu(H₂O)₄]²⁺ → tetraaquacopper(II) |
| Neutral molecule (CO) | carbonyl | [Ni(CO)₄] → tetracarbonylnickel(0) |
| Negative ion (Cl⁻) | chloro | [PtCl₆]²⁻ → hexachloroplatinate(IV) |
| Negative ion (CN⁻) | cyano | [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ → hexacyanoferrate(II) |
| Negative ion (OH⁻) | hydroxo | [Al(OH)₄]⁻ → tetrahydroxoaluminate(III) |
ammine (with two m's) is for NH₃ as a ligand. amine (one m) is for organic compounds like ethylamine. Don't mix them up — exam setters love this trap.
4. Prefixes for multiple ligands
Use Greek prefixes: di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, octa-.
If the ligand name already contains a number (like ethylenediamine), use bis-, tris-, tetrakis- instead.
[Co(en)₃]³⁺ is tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III), not triethylenediaminecobalt(III). The parentheses around the ligand name are mandatory when using bis/tris/tetrakis.
5. Oxidation state of the metal
Write it in Roman numerals in parentheses right after the metal name. No space.
[Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ → hexacyanoferrate(III) (iron is in +3 state)
6. If the complex is an anion, change the metal's ending
| Metal | Anionic form |
|---|---|
| Cobalt | cobaltate |
| Copper | cuprate |
| Iron | ferrate |
| Nickel | nickelate |
| Platinum | platinate |
| Zinc | zincate |
General pattern:
[M(L)ₙ]Xₘ → cation name = [prefix-ligands]metal(oxidation state)
anion name = [prefix-ligands]metalate(oxidation state)
Worked Examples
Example 1: K₃[Fe(CN)₆]
- Cation: potassium (K⁺)
- Complex anion:
[Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ - Ligands: 6 cyano → hexacyano
- Metal: iron → ferrate (because it's an anion)
- Oxidation state: Fe is +3 (since 6 CN⁻ = -6, total charge -3, so Fe must be +3)
- Answer: Potassium hexacyanoferrate(III)
Example 2: [Co(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂
- Cation:
[Co(NH₃)₅Cl]²⁺ - Ligands: 5 ammine + 1 chloro → alphabetical: ammine before chloro → pentaamminechloro
- Metal: cobalt
- Oxidation state: Co is +3 (5 NH₃ neutral, 1 Cl⁻ = -1, total +2, so Co = +3) …
Why this formula?
Coordination Compound Nomenclature: Why the Rules Work
Coordination compound nomenclature isn't about a single formula — it's a system of rules built on a few core principles. Let's understand the why behind each major rule, so you never have to memorise blindly.
1. The Central Idea: Ligands as "Guests" Around a Metal "Host"
A coordination compound has a central metal atom/ion surrounded by ligands (molecules or ions that donate electron pairs). The naming reflects this relationship:
- Cation first, then anion (like normal ionic compounds)
- Ligands named before the metal (because they modify the metal's identity)
Why?
In chemistry, we name the more electropositive part first (cation). The metal-ligand complex is treated as a single unit — the ligands are "attached" to the metal, so they come first in the complex name.
2. Key Rule: Ligand Order — Alphabetical, Not by Charge
Rule: Ligands are named in alphabetical order (ignoring prefixes like di-, tri-).
Why?
- If we ordered by charge or size, the name would change every time a ligand is replaced.
- Alphabetical order is universal and unambiguous — it doesn't depend on the metal or oxidation state.
- Example:
[Co(NH₃)₄Cl₂]⁺is tetraamminedichlorocobalt(III) — "ammine" (a) before "chloro" (c).
3. Oxidation State: Why Roman Numerals?
Rule: The metal's oxidation state is written in Roman numerals in parentheses after the metal name.
Why?
- The oxidation state tells you the charge on the metal after accounting for ligand charges.
- Roman numerals avoid confusion with Arabic numbers (which are used for ligand counts).
- Example:
[Fe(CN)₆]³⁻→ hexacyanoferrate(III) — the iron is Fe³⁺, not Fe²⁺.
Derivation of oxidation state:
Let the complex charge = Q, ligand charges = sum of ligand charges L, number of ligands = n.
Then:
Metal oxidation state=Q−L
For [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻: CN⁻ has charge -1, so L=6×(−1)=−6, Q=−3.
Fe oxidation state=−3−(−6)=+3
4. Anionic Ligands: The "-o" Ending
Rule: Anionic ligands (negative ions) end in -o (e.g., Cl⁻ → chloro, CN⁻ → cyano, OH⁻ → hydroxo).
Why?
- This distinguishes them from neutral ligands (e.g., NH₃ → ammine, H₂O → aqua).
- The suffix -o signals "this ligand came from an anion" — crucial for charge balance.
Common examples:
| Anion | Ligand name |
|---|---|
| Cl⁻ | chloro |
| CN⁻ | cyano |
| OH⁻ | hydroxo |
| SO₄²⁻ | sulfato |
5. Neutral Ligands: Special Names
Rule: Neutral ligands keep their molecular name, except for a few with special names:
- NH₃ → ammine (not "ammonia")
- H₂O → aqua
- CO → carbonyl
- NO → nitrosyl
Why?
- "Ammine" avoids confusion with ammonia (NH₃) as a free molecule.
- These special names are historical but standardised — you must memorise them for exams.
6. Prefixes: di-, tri-, tetra-, etc.
Rule: Use Greek prefixes to indicate the number of each ligand:
- 2 → di, 3 → tri, 4 → tetra, 5 → penta, 6 → hexa
Why?
- Without prefixes,
[Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺would be "hexaamminecobalt(III)" — the "hexa" tells you there are six ammines. - For ligands with complex names (e.g., ethylenediamine), use bis-, tris-, tetrakis- to avoid confusion.
Example:
[Co(en)₃]³⁺ → tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) — "tris" because "triethylenediamine" would sound like three ethylenediamine molecules (which is correct, but "tris" is clearer).
7. Anionic Complexes: The "-ate" Suffix …
Concept: Coordination Compound Nomenclature — A heteroleptic complex has more than one type of ligand; a homoleptic complex has only one type.
Reasoning:
- (i) [Cr(NH3)6]3+ — only NH3 ligands → homoleptic.
- (ii) [Fe(NH3)4Cl2]+ — two different ligands (NH3 and Cl−) → heteroleptic. …
A heteroleptic complex has two or more different types of ligands attached to the central metal ion. Among the given options, only (ii) [Fe(NH3)4Cl2]+ and (iv) [Co(NH3)4Cl2] contain more than one kind of ligand, so they are heteroleptic.
Why this classification matters
In coordination chemistry, we classify complexes based on how many different kinds of ligands are bonded to the metal centre. This isn't just a naming exercise — it affects symmetry, isomerism, and often the chemical properties of the complex.
Homoleptic complexes: all ligands are identical.
Heteroleptic complexes: at least two different types of ligands are present.
The trick is to look past the numbers and focus on the identity of the ligands. A complex with six ammonia molecules is homoleptic; one with four ammonias and two chlorides is heteroleptic — even if the total number of ligands is the same.
Step-by-step analysis
-
Option (i): [Cr(NH3)6]3+
The only ligand present is ammonia (NH3). All six ligands are identical.
→ Homoleptic.
-
Option (ii): [Fe(NH3)4Cl2]+
Here we have two different ligands: ammonia (NH3) and chloride (Cl−). Four of one kind, two of another — but the presence of even one different ligand makes it heteroleptic.
→ Heteroleptic.
-
Option (iii): [Mn(CN)6]4−
Only cyanide ions (CN−) are present. All six ligands are the same.
→ Homoleptic.
-
Option (iv): [Co(NH3)4Cl2] …
Method: Classification by Ligand Type (Homoleptic vs Heteroleptic)
Concept: A complex is homoleptic if it contains only one type of ligand. It is heteroleptic if it contains two or more different types of ligands.
Steps:
- List all ligands present in each complex.
- Count the distinct ligand types (ignore charges and central metal).
- Classify:
- Only one type → homoleptic
- Two or more types → heteroleptic
Applying to each option:
(i) [Cr(NH3)6]3+
- Ligands: only NH3
- One type → Homoleptic
(ii) [Fe(NH3)4Cl2]+
- Ligands: NH3 and Cl−
- Two types → Heteroleptic …
Common Mistakes in Identifying Heteroleptic Complexes
Mistake 1: Confusing "Heteroleptic" with "Mixed Oxidation State"
The Error: Students think heteroleptic means the metal has different oxidation states or that the complex has different charges.
The Fix: Heteroleptic refers only to the number of different types of ligands attached to the central metal atom/ion. It has nothing to do with charge or oxidation state.
- Heteroleptic = Two or more different ligand types
- Homoleptic = Only one type of ligand
Mistake 2: Counting Only the First Ligand Type
The Error: Students see [Co(NH₃)₄Cl₂] and think "NH₃ is one type, Cl is another — so it's heteroleptic." That part is correct, but they often miss that [Fe(NH₃)₄Cl₂]⁺ is also heteroleptic.
The Fix: Check every complex systematically:
- (i)
[Cr(NH₃)₆]³⁺→ Only NH₃ → Homoleptic - (ii)
[Fe(NH₃)₄Cl₂]⁺→ NH₃ and Cl → Heteroleptic ✓ - (iii)
[Mn(CN)₆]⁴⁻→ Only CN⁻ → Homoleptic - (iv)
[Co(NH₃)₄Cl₂]→ NH₃ and Cl → Heteroleptic ✓
Correct Answer: (ii) and (iv)
Mistake 3: Thinking Charge Affects Ligand Type
The Error: Students assume that because [Fe(NH₃)₄Cl₂]⁺ has a +1 charge and [Co(NH₃)₄Cl₂] is neutral, they must be different in some fundamental way.
The Fix: Charge is irrelevant to the heteroleptic/homoleptic classification. Only the identity of ligands matters. Both have NH₃ and Cl — both are heteroleptic.
Mistake 4: Confusing "Heteroleptic" with "Ambidentate" …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.Choose the correct formula for tris (ethane-1, 2-diamine) cobalt (III) hexacyanido ferrate (II) (A) [Co(en)3][Fe(CN)6] (B) [Co(en)3]2[Fe(CN)6]3 (C) [Co(en)3]3[Fe(CN)6]2 (D) [Co(en)3]4[Fe(CN)6]3
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests naming-to-formula conversion for coordination compounds — figuring out ligand charges, metal oxidation states, and then balancing overall charge between cation and anion. The answer is [Co(en)3]4[Fe(CN)6]3.
Concept and Intuition
When a coordination compound's name specifies both a cationic complex and an anionic complex (as here — cobalt complex is the cation, ferrate complex is the anion), the overall salt must be electrically neutral. You find each complex ion's own charge first, then combine cation and anion in whatever whole-number ratio makes the total charge zero — exactly like balancing a simple ionic salt such as Al2O3 (from Al3+ and O2−).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Cation — tris(ethane-1,2-diamine)cobalt(III): "ethane-1,2-diamine" (en) is a neutral bidentate ligand (NH2CH2CH2NH2), and "tris" means three of them are attached: [Co(en)3]. The oxidation state of cobalt is given as (III), i.e. +3. Since en is neutral, the whole complex ion carries the metal's charge: [Co(en)3]3+.
- Anion — hexacyanidoferrate(II): "hexacyanido" means six CN− ligands, each carrying −1 charge, i.e. −6 total from ligands. "ferrate(II)" tells us iron is in the +2 state. Net charge of the complex ion =+2+(−6)=−4: [Fe(CN)6]4−. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-19-AN1 markMCQQ.The IUPAC name of [PtCl2(H2N−CH2−CH2−NH2)2](NO3)2 is (A) Bis (ethane - 1,2 - diamine)dichloridoplatinum (IV) nitrate (B) Bis(ethane - 1,2 - diamine)dichloridoplatinum (IV) dinitrate (C) Dichloridobis (ethane - 1,2 - diamine)platinum (IV) nitrate (D) Dichloridobis(ethane - 1,2 - diamine)platinum (IV) dinitrate
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests IUPAC coordination nomenclature: computing the metal's oxidation state and applying the alphabetical-ligand-order + no-prefix-on-a-Stock-named-counter-ion rules. Answer: Dichloridobis(ethane-1,2-diamine)platinum(IV) nitrate.
Concept and Intuition
A coordination compound name is built as [cationic complex or ligands][metal(oxidation state)] [anion]. Two separate rules govern it here: (1) ligands inside the complex are cited in alphabetical order by the ligand's own name, ignoring any multiplying prefix (mono/di/bis, tris...); (2) once the metal's oxidation state is stated in Roman numerals (Stock notation), the charge of the whole complex ion is fixed, so the number of counter-ions needed to balance it is implicit and is NOT restated with a multiplying prefix on the counter-ion's name.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Ligands: Cl− (chlorido, charge −1 each, two of them) and en = ethane-1,2-diamine (neutral, a bidentate ligand named with "bis" since its own name contains a numerical locant "1,2").
- Overall salt is [PtCl2(en)2](NO3)2, so the complex cation carries +2 charge (two nitrate anions balance it).
- Let Pt oxidation state be x: x+2(−1)+2(0)=+2⇒x=+4. So it's platinum(IV).
- Ligand naming: "chlorido" for Cl− ×2 → "dichlorido"; "ethane-1,2-diamine" ×2 → "bis(ethane-1,2-diamine)" (bis is used, not "di", because the ligand name itself already has numbers in it — using "di" would be ambiguous).
- Alphabetical citation order compares "chlorido" (c) vs "ethane-1,2-diamine" (e): c precedes e, so chlorido-containing part is written first: "Dichloridobis(ethane-1,2-diamine)platinum(IV)". …
- AP EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-26-AN1 markMCQQ.The IUPAC name of the complex shown below is K3[Co(ox)3] (A) Tripotassium trioxalatocobaltate (III) (B) Potassium trioxalatecobaltate (III) (C) Potassium trioxalatecobalt (III) (D) Potassium trioxalatocobaltate (III)
›Reveal solutionSolution
IUPAC naming of coordination compounds: ligand 'oxalato' × 3 = 'trioxalato', anionic complex metal gets the '-ate' suffix ('cobaltate'), oxidation state by charge balance is +3, and the counter-cation 'potassium' is stated without a multiplying prefix — giving Potassium trioxalatocobaltate(III).
Concept and Intuition
Coordination-compound IUPAC names follow a fixed template: cation first, then ligands alphabetically with multiplying prefixes (bis/tris for complex ligand names, di/tri for simple ones like oxalato), then the metal name — with the special rule that if the complex ion is an anion, the metal name is modified to end in '-ate' (e.g. cobalt → cobaltate, iron → ferrate), followed by the oxidation state in Roman numerals in brackets.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Formula: K3[Co(ox)3], where 'ox' = oxalate ion (C2O42−), a bidentate ligand named 'oxalato' in coordination nomenclature.
- Charge balance: complex ion is [Co(ox)3]3− (balanced by 3 K+). Let Co oxidation state be x: x+3(−2)=−3⇒x=+3.
- Ligand prefix: three oxalato ligands → 'trioxalato' (using tri- since oxalato is a simple, unsubstituted ligand name).
- Since the complex ion is an anion, the metal name takes the anionic suffix: cobalt → 'cobaltate'.
- Combine: 'trioxalatocobaltate', with oxidation state (III) in brackets: 'trioxalatocobaltate(III)'. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-16-FN1 markMCQQ.The formula of tris (ethane -1,2- diamine) cobalt (III) sulphate is: (A) [Co(H2NCH2CH2NH2)3]SO4 (B) [Co(H2NCH2CH2NH2)3]3(SO3)2 (C) [Co(CH3CH2NHNH2)3]2(SO4)3 (D) [Co(H2NCH2CH2NH2)3]2(SO4)3
›Reveal solutionSolution
The complex cation [Co(en)₃]³⁺ needs 2 cations for every 3 sulphate ions to balance charge, giving [Co(en)₃]₂(SO₄)₃.
Concept and Intuition
"Ethane-1,2-diamine" (en) is the neutral bidentate ligand H2NCH2CH2NH2. Cobalt(III) with three such neutral ligands gives a complex cation charge equal to the metal's oxidation state alone: [Co(en)3]3+. To form a neutral salt with sulphate (SO42−), the overall charges must balance using the smallest whole-number ratio — LCM of 3 and 2 is 6, so 2 cations (total +6) balance 3 sulphates (total −6).
Step-by-Step Solution
- Write the complex cation: [Co(H2NCH2CH2NH2)3]3+ (Co³⁺ + 3 neutral en ligands).
- Sulphate anion charge: SO42−.
- Balance charges: need ratio such that 2×3=3×2=6 → 2 cations : 3 sulphates. …
- AP EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-17-AN1 markMCQQ.IUPAC name of [Pt(NH3)2Cl(NH2CH3)]Cl is (A) (Amino methane) chloro (diammine) platinum (II) chlolide (B) Chlorodiammine (methanamine) platinum (II) chloride (C) Diamminechloro (methanamine) platinum (II) chloride (D) Diamminechloro (methylamine) platinum (IV) chloride
›Reveal solutionSolution
Naming ligands alphabetically (ammine, chloro, methanamine) and computing Pt's oxidation state as +2 gives Diamminechloro(methanamine)platinum(II) chloride.
Concept and Intuition
IUPAC coordination nomenclature: (1) name ligands alphabetically using IUPAC ligand names (ignoring di/tri prefixes for alphabetization); (2) anionic ligands get '-o' suffix (chloro for Cl-); (3) metal oxidation state deduced from charge balance; (4) counter-ion named last.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Ligands in [Pt(NH3)2Cl(NH2CH3)]Cl: two NH3 (ammine, neutral), one Cl− (chloro, -1), one NH2CH3 = methanamine (neutral, the IUPAC ligand name for methylamine).
- Alphabetize ignoring 'di': ammine (a) < chloro (c) < methanamine (m) -> "diamminechloro(methanamine)". …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-05-FN1 markMCQQ.The homoleptic complex in the following is (A) [Co(NH3)4Br2]⊕ (B) [Co(C2O4)(NH3)4]⊕ (C) [Co(NH3)6]3⊕ (D) [Co(CN)4Cl2]⊖
›Reveal solutionSolution
A homoleptic complex has all identical ligands; only [Co(NH3)6]3+ qualifies among the given options.
Concept and Intuition
Coordination complexes are classified as homoleptic (all ligands of one single type bound to the metal) or heteroleptic (two or more different kinds of ligands). This is purely a matter of reading off the ligands present in each formula and checking whether they are all the same species.
Step-by-Step Solution
- [Co(NH3)4Br2]+ — ligands present: NH3 and Br− (two types) → heteroleptic.
- [Co(C2O4)(NH3)4]+ — ligands present: oxalate (C2O42−) and NH3 (two types) → heteroleptic.
- [Co(NH3)6]3+ — ligand present: only NH3, six of them → homoleptic. …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-07-FN1 markMCQQ.The IUPAC name of the following complex is [Co(NH2CH2CH2NH2)2Br2]Br (A) Bis (ethane-1, 2- diamine) dibromido cobalt (III) bromide (B) Di (ethane-1, 2- diamine) dibromido cobalt (III) bromide (C) Tribromido bis (ethane-1, 2- diamine) cobalt (III) (D) Dibromido bis (elthylene diamine) cobalt (III) bromide
›Reveal solutionSolution
The oxidation state of Co is +3 (from a +1 complex cation with two neutral en and two Br− ligands), and IUPAC alphabetical ligand ordering puts "bromido" before "(ethylenediamine)," giving dibromidobis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) bromide.
Concept and Intuition
Naming a coordination compound requires: (1) determining the metal's oxidation state from overall charge balance, (2) naming ligands with multiplying prefixes (di-, tri- for simple ligands; bis-, tris- for more complex/substituted ligand names like ethylenediamine, to avoid ambiguity), and (3) listing ligands in strict alphabetical order by ligand name (ignoring the multiplying prefix), followed by the metal name+oxidation state, then the counter-ion name.
Step-by-Step Solution
- The compound is [Co(en)2Br2]Br — one Br− is outside the coordination sphere (counter-ion), so the complex cation is [Co(en)2Br2]+.
- Charge balance inside the bracket: en is neutral (×2 = 0), Br− ligands contribute −2 (×2), so Co+0−2=+1⇒Co=+3.
- Ligand names: "ethylenediamine" (a bidentate amine, needs "bis" not "di" since its name itself could be ambiguous with a simple prefix) and "bromido" for Br−.
- Alphabetical order of ligand names (ignoring multiplying prefixes): "bromido" (b) before "ethylenediamine" (e). …
- AP EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-08-AN1 markMCQQ.The IUPAC name of the following complex is [Cr(NH3)3(H2O)2Cl]Cl2 (A) Triamminediaqua chlorido chromium (III) chloride (B) Diaquatriammine chlorido chromium (III) chloride (C) Chlorido diaquatriammine chromium (III) chloride (D) Triammine diaqua trichlorido chromium (III)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Naming [Cr(NH3)3(H2O)2Cl]Cl2 requires listing ligands alphabetically (ammine, aqua, chlorido) with multiplying prefixes, then the oxidation state of Cr (found by charge balance) in Roman numerals, followed by the anion name — giving "triamminediaquachloridochromium(III) chloride".
Concept and Intuition
IUPAC naming of coordination compounds lists ligands in alphabetical order (by the first letter of the ligand name itself, ignoring multiplying prefixes like di-/tri-), followed by the name of the central metal with its oxidation state in Roman numerals in parentheses, and finally the counter-ion name (as a separate word) if the complex is a cation. The oxidation state of the metal is found by balancing charges: neutral ligands (NH₃, H₂O) contribute 0, anionic ligands contribute their charge, and the sum plus the metal's oxidation state must equal the overall charge of the complex ion.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Identify ligands inside the bracket: 3 NH₃ ("ammine" ×3 → "triammine"), 2 H₂O ("aqua" ×2 → "diaqua"), 1 Cl⁻ ("chlorido").
- Alphabetize by ligand name ignoring prefixes: compare "ammine", "aqua", "chlorido" — a-m-m... vs a-q-u-a: 'm' precedes 'q', so "ammine" comes before "aqua"; "chlorido" (starting with 'c') comes after both 'a' words. Order: ammine, aqua, chlorido.
- Combine with multiplying prefixes in that order: "triamminediaquachlorido".
- Determine oxidation state of Cr: the compound is neutral with 2 Cl⁻ as counter ions outside the bracket, so the complex ion charge is +2. Inside the bracket: 3(NH₃, 0) + 2(H₂O, 0) + 1(Cl⁻, −1) = −1. So Cr + (−1) = +2 → Cr = +3.
- Complete metal name: "chromium(III)". …
🎓Unlock everything free for 14 days
- ✓Full step-by-step solutions
- ✓Concept-first explanations
- ✓Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- ✓PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.