Q.On the basis of VB theory explain the nature of bonding in [Co(C₂O₄)₃]³⁻.

Valence Bond Theory (VBT), proposed by Linus Pauling, explains the metal-ligand bond as covalent: each ligand donates a lone pair into a vacant HYBRID orbital on the metal, and the number of hybrid orbitals needed equals the coordination number. Hybridisation fixes geometry directly: sp -> linear (CN 2), sp² -> trigonal planar (CN 3), sp³ -> tetrahedral (CN 4), dsp² -> square planar (CN 4), dsp³ -> trigonal bipyramidal (CN 5), d²sp³ or sp³d² -> octahedral (CN 6). …