Transition Metal Sample Exam questions

1. The number unpaired electrons in the low-spin complex, [Co(CN)6]3- is

A) 0
B) 1
C) 2
D) 4
E) 5

2. [CoCl6]3- is orange while [Co(NH3)6]3+ is yellow. Which of the following

statements is correct?

A) [CoCl6]3- absorbs orange light.

B) The crystal field splitting parameter Δ is larger for [CoCl6]3- than for
[Co(NH3)6]3+.
C) The different colors are due to the different numbers of unpaired electrons on
the complexes.
D) The two sets of d orbitals are split further apart in [Co(NH3)6]3+ than they
are in [CoCl6]3-.
E) The different colors are due to the different charges on the complexes.

3. Which one of the following compounds is likely to be colorless?

A) [Zn(OH2)6]2+
B) [Cu(OH2)6]2+
C) [Fe(OH2)6]2+
D) [Cr(OH2)6]2+

4. Which of the following compounds would be paramagnetic?

A) [Zn(NH3)4]Cl2
B) CaSO4
C) [Cu(H2O)4]Br
D) [Co(NH3)6]Cl3 (low spin)
E) K[FeCl4]
5. Which one of the following can act as a tridentate ligand (occupies three
coordination positions in a complex ion)?

A) (CH3)2NH
B) (CH3)(H)NCH2CH2N(H)CH2CH2N(H)(CH3)
C) (CH3)(H)NCH2CH2N(H)(CH3)
D) (CH3)(H)NCH2CH2OCH2CH3
E) NH3

6. The [Co(NH3)6]3+ complex ion absorbs light of 262nm. What is the energy of the
crystal field splitting?

A) 7.59 × 10−19 J
B) 457 J
C) 2.62× 10−9 J
D) 78.6 J
E) 3.82 × 10−19 J

ANS A

ANSwrs

1. A
2 D
3 A
4 E
5 B
6. A