1.

What was the term proposed by Werner for the number of groups bound directly to the metal ion in a
coordination complex?

a) Primary valence

b) Secondary valence

c) Oxidation number

d) Polyhedra

Answer: b

Explanation: Primary valence of a metal ion is also known as its oxidation number. The secondary
valence is equal to the coordination number and is fixed for a metal. Coordination polyhedra is the term
for the spatial arrangements of the groups/ions around the metal.

2. What is the colour of the compound CoCl 3.5NH3?

a) Yellow

b) Purple

c) Green

d) Violet

Answer: b

Explanation: The different compounds of cobalt(III) chloride with ammonia show distinct properties,
most notably with respect to colour and conductivity measurements in solution.

3. If the secondary valence in CoCl3.4NH3 is six, the solution conductivity in silver nitrate corresponds to
________ electrolyte.

a) 1:1

b) 1:2

c) 1:3

d) 1:4

Answer: a

Explanation: Werner observed that ‘x’ mol of AgCl was precipitated per mole of CoCl 3.4NH3 with excess
silver nitrate. Currently, there are seven groups attached to the cobalt atom. For the secondary valence
to be six, one of the chloride (x=1) has to be precipitated as AgCl, therefore 1:1 electrolyte.
4. Which is the counter ion in [Pd(NH 3)4]2+2Cl-?

a) Pd2+

b) [Pd(NH3)4]2+

c) Cl-

d) It does not have a counter ion

Answer: c

Explanation: In coordination compounds, the ions outside the square brackets are called counter ions,
and the species within the square bracket are the coordination entities.

5. Werner proposed that the primary valences are ionizable and are satisfied only by positive ions.

a) True

b) False

Answer: b

Explanation: According to Werner’s postulates, primary valences are ionizable and are satisfied by
negative ions. Whereas, secondary valences are non-ionizable, and these are satisfies by neutral
molecules or negative ions.

6. Werner postulated that octahedral, tetrahedral and square planar geometrical shapes are more
common in coordination compounds of ________

a) Alkali metals

b) Lanthanides

c) Actinides

d) Transition metals

Answer: d

Explanation: Transition metals bond a bit differently from main group elements. They form coordinate
covalent bonds and are often the central metal ion/atom of coordination complexes. Thus, octahedral,
tetrahedral and square planar shapes are more common in transition metal central atoms.
7. Given that 1 mol of NiCl2.6H2O with excess AgNO3 precipitates 2 mols of AgCl, what is the secondary
valence of Ni?

a) 1

b) 2

c) 4

d) 6

Answer: d

Explanation: After the reaction, it will form [Ni(H 2O)6]2- and 2Cl- in which the former is the coordination
complex. There are six water molecules bound to Ni, which makes the secondary valence of Ni as 6.

8. If Pt in PtCl4.2HCl has a secondary valence of 6, how many mols of AgCl will 1 mol of the compound
precipitate with excess AgNO3?

a) 0

b) 1

c) 2

d) 4

Answer: a

Explanation: Since the secondary valence is 6, the compound should have six groups linked to Pt atom.
But it already has six groups linked to it and cannot lose any Cl atoms to form AgCl. Hence, no AgCl will
be produced.

9. What is the sum of the oxidation number of cobalt in [Co(H 2O)(CN)(en)2]2+ and [CoBr2(en)2]+?

a) +3

b) +4

c) +5

d) +6

Answer: d

Explanation: In [Co(H2O)(CN)(en)2]2+, the overall charge is +2 and 0,-1 and 0 on H 2O, CN and en groups
respectively. If ‘x’ is the oxidation number of Co, then (x + 0 – 1 + 0 = +2), which implies x=+3. Similarly,
in [CoBr2(en)2]+, the charge on Br is -1, so if ‘y’ is the oxidation number of Co, then (y – 2 + 0 = +1), which
implies y=+3. Therefore, the sum of the oxidation numbers is 3 + 3 = 6.
10. Predict the secondary valence of Pt within the complex ion from the equation shown below.

a) 1

b) 3

c) 6

d) 9

Answer: c

Explanation: It is given that 3 parts of the platinum chloride compounds in excess silver nitrate gives 9
parts of AgCl and 3 parts of the complex ion. There are two approaches to this:

Method 1 (By balancing): It is seen that (3x4=) 12 atoms of Cl on the left give (9x1=) 9 on the right, which
leaves 3 Cl atoms, that is one in each complex ion. Now, each complex ion has 1 Cl and 5 NH 3 linked to
Pt, giving a secondary valence of 6.

Method 2 (By proportioning): 3 mols gives 9 mols, which implies, 1 part of compound will give 3 parts of
AgCl. Thus, only one Cl atom remains with the compound along with 5 NH 3 molecules, giving Pt a
secondary valence of 6.

11. What is the primary valence of iron in the coordination entity of compound Fe 4[Fe(CN)6]3?

a) 0

b) +2

c) +3

d) +4

Answer: b

Explanation: This compound, also known as Prussian blue, dissociates into 4 Fe 3+ and 3 [Fe(CN)6]4- ions,
of which the latter is the coordination entity having a charge of -4. The Fe atom in question is the one
inside the bracket. Since CN has a charge of -1 and there are 6 of them, the primary valence of Fe will be
6 – 4 = +2.
12. [Fe(CN)6]4- is an example of a _______

a) Coordination compound

b) Complex ion

c) Double salt

d) Complex salt

Answer: b

Explanation: [Fe(CN)6]4- is the coordination complex ion of the coordination compound K 4[Fe(CN6)], or
potassium ferrocyanide, which is also a complex salt. Coordination complexes are also known as
coordination entities.

13. Which of the following is a complex salt?

a) Potassium aluminium sulphate

b) Ammonium iron(ll) sulphate

c) Carnallite

d) Potassium ferrocyanide

Answer: d

Explanation: Potassium ferrocyanide, K4[Fe(CN6)], is a complex salt that does not dissociate into Fe 2+ and
CN- ions when dissolved in water. The other three, i.e., potash alum, carnallite and Mohr’s salt are
double salt that dissociate into simple ions completely when dissolved in water.

14. The compound tetramminecopper(II) sulphate, or [Cu(NH3)4]SO4.5H2O, a double salt.

a) True

b) False

Answer: b

Explanation: The given compound is a coordination compound made of a complex ion, i.e., [Cu(NH 3)4]2+
which does not dissociate into its constituent ions when dissolved. Hence, it is a complex salt and not a
double salt.