KARMA ACADEMY

SUB: Chemistry Topic :Coordination compounds

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Question 1
(a) For each question there are four alternative A, B, C and D. Choose the correct alternative and
write it in your answer sheet. [1×15 =15]

i) The number of neutral molecules or negative groups attached to the central metal atom in a
complex ion is called
A. Atomic number C. Coordination number
B. Effective atomic number D. Primary valency
ii) Which is the example of hexadentate ligand?
A. Ethylenediammine C. diethylenetriamine
B. Glycinato D. Ethylenediamminetetraacetate ion [EDTA]

iii) The oxidation state of Fe in K4[Fe(CN)6] is

A. +4 C. +2
B. –2 D. +3
v) Which of the following is non-ionizable
A. [Co(NH3)6]Cl2 C. [Co(NH3)5 Cl]Cl2
B. [Co(NH3)3Cl3] D. [Co(NH3)4 Cl2]Cl
vi)The IUPAC name of [Ni(CO)4] is
A. Tetra carbonyl nickel (0) C. Tetra carbonyl nickelate (0)
B. Tetra carbonyl nickel (II) D. Tetra carbonyl nickelate (II)

vii) The complex [Pt(NH3)6]Cl4 furnishes

A. 5 ions C. 4 ions
B. 3 ions D. 2 ions
viii)The neutral ligand is
A. Chloro C. Ammine
B. Hydroxo D. Oxalato
ix) How many ions are produced in aqueous solution of [Co(H2O)6]Cl2
A. 4 C. 3
B. 6 D. 2
x) IUPAC name of [Co(NH3)5NO2]Cl2
A. Pentamminenitrocobalt (II) chloride C. Dichloropentaminecobalt(II) chloride
B. Pentamminenitrocobalt (III) chloride D. Pentamminenitrosocobalt (III) chloride
xi) The IUPAC name of K2 [Ni (CN)4] is ______.
A. Potassium tetracyanatonickelate (II) C. Potassium tetracyanonickel (III)
B. Potassium tetracyanonickelate (II) D. Potassium tetracyanatonickel (II)
xii) The IUPAC name of the complex [Co (NH3)4 Cl2] Cl is
A. dichlorotetraammine cobalt (III) chloride C. tetraamminedichloro cobalt (II) chloride
B. tetraamminedichloro cobalt (III) chloride D. tetraamminedichloro cobalt (IV) chloride
xiii) Select the correct IUPAC name for: [Co(NH3)6]2+
(a) hexammoniacobaltate(II) ion (c) hexammoniacobalt(II) ion
(b) hexaamminecobaltate(II) ion (d) hexaamminecobalt(II) ion
xiv) The oxidation state of central metal ion in the complex compound [Cr (en)(H2O)2Cl2]NO3 is
A. 1 C. 3
B. 2 D. 4
xv) Which of the following aqueous solution will be coloured?
A. Zn(NO3)2 C) Co(NO3)2
B) LiNO3 D) TiCl4

2) Explain the bonding in coordination compounds in terms of Werner’s postulates. [2]

Werner’s postulates explain the bonding in coordination compounds as follows:
a) A metal exhibits two types of valency namely, primary and secondary valency.
Primary valency is satisfied by negative ions while secondary valency are satisfied by both
negative and neutral ions.
In modern terminology, the primary valency corresponds to the oxidation number of the metal
ion, whereas the secondary valency refers to the coordination number of the metal ion.
b) A metal ion has a definite number of secondary valency around the central atom. Also, these
valency project in a specific direction in the space assigned to the definite geometry of the
coordination compound.
c) Primary valency are usually ionizable, while secondary valency are non-ionizable.
3) Why [Ti(H2O)6]Cl3 is violet in color but when water molecules are removed by heating it
becomes colourless. [2]
Ans: Co-ordination compounds exhibits color due to d-d transition of electrons. Titanium in
[Ti(H2O)6]Cl3    is in +3 oxidation state and has electronic configuration of [Ar]3d14s .
Due to the  presence of unpaired electrons in its d orbitals excitation of an electron from say for
example t2g, will absorb light that will excite the electron from t2g to eg . When light
corresponding to the energy in particular region is absorbed by the complex, this would excite
the electron from t2g level to the eg level and remaining colour (complementary colour) gets
transmitted which appears to be violet . Thus, the complex is violet in color

But when it is heated water ( ligands) gets removed and in the absence of ligand there is no
crystal field splitting and substance become colourless as in case of [Ti(H2O)6]Cl3.
4) Using IUPAC norms write the systematic names of the following coordination compounds.
[2]
(a) [Co(NH3)4Cl(NO2)]Cl
Ans: Tetraamminichloridonitritocobalt(III) chloride
(b) [Co(en)3]3+
Ans: Tris(ethane-1, 2-diammine) cobalt(III) ion

5) What is meant by unidentate, bidentate and ambidentate ligands? Give two examples for each.
[3]
A ligand may contain one or more unshared pairs of electrons which are called the donor
sites of ligands. Now, depending on the number of these donor sites, ligands can be
Unidentate ligands: Ligands with only one donor sites are called unidentate
Didentate ligands: Ligands that have two donor sites are called didentate ligands.
Anionic ligands Formula atom Name Donor

C2O42– oxalato (ox) O

SO42– Sulphato O

:NH2CH2COO– glycinato (gly) N and O

Neutral bidentate ethylenediamine (en)

H2C CH2 N
H2N: :NH2

Ambidentate ligands: Ligands that can attach themselves to the central metal atom through two
different atoms are called ambidentate ligands. For example:
SCN and NO2
6) Why Cu2+ is a coloured compound and Zn2+ is a colourless compound.[1]
Cu2+ =[Ar]3d94s0 hence d-d transition is possible and it is coloured
Zn2+= [Ar]3d104s since it has completely filled d- orbitals, d-d transition is not possible, hence
it is colourless.
BHSEC 2017
i. The secondary valency of the coordination compound given below is

A 3. C 6.
B 5. D 8.
ii.The coordination compound which is used as an anti-tumor agent in treatment of cancer is
…………= Cisplatin
Column A Column B
(i) Functional group region a. P30
(ii) Lead storage b. Sec-1
(iii) Treatment of skin diseases c. primary cell
(iv) Ionic product of water at 25˚C d. IR spectrum
(v) First order reaction e. NMR spectrum
(vi) Dry cell f. HCO3-
(vii) Ethylene diamine g. secondary cell
(viii) Treatment of cancer growth h. 10-7
(ix) Chemical shift i. Co60
(x) Conjugate acid of CO32- j. bidentate ligand
 k. 10-14
l. molL-1 sec-1
m. monodentate ligand

iii. Most of the coordination complexes are coloured. State two factors on which colour of the
complexes depend.
Nature of metal ion or partially filled d-orbitals,
nature of ligands
iv. Find the coordination number oxidation number for the following complexes and give
reasons to support your answer.
a) Co in [Co (en)3]3+
6, +3
Because ethylenediamine is bidentate ligand thus 3 × 2 = 6
b) Fe in [Fe (edta)]-
6, +3
Because edta is a hexadentate ligand, 1 × 6 = 6
v. Explain the following statements:
a) Zn2+ compounds are colourless.
In Zn2+ compounds, Zn has completely filled d-orbitals and has no electron for d-d transition.
b) Vanadium pentaoxide acts as a catalyst.
The presence of 5 unpaired electrons in d-orbitals, due to variable oxidation states: +2, +3, +4,
+
5
vi. Based on the structure given below, write the oxidation number and coordination number of
the central atom.

Oxidation number of central atom is 3 Coordination number is 6.

Tetraamminechromium
vii. (III) nitrate
Why are Cd2+ salts colourless while Fe3+ salts coloured?
ix. 2+For
Cd iona has
complex compound
completely filled‘tetracyanocuprate
d-orbital ([Kr]4d105s(II)
2
),ion’,
so d-d transition is not possible
Calculate
Fe 3+
ion hasthepartially
charge of the d-orbital
filled complex so
iond-d
andtransition
write its formula.
is not possible
Cyano
OR due(CN-) = ─1
to unpaired electrons in d-orbitals undergoes d-d- transitions.
2+
Cuprate
viii. Give (Cu
the IUPAC
) = +2 name of [Cr(NH3)4](NO3)3.
Over all charge of complex ion = 2 + (4 × ─1)
=2–4
= ─ 2-

Formula: [Cu(CN)4]2─
BHSEC 2020
a) The IUPAC name of the complex [Co(NH3)4(H2O)(Br)](NO3)2 is
A tetraammineaquabromodinitrocobalt(III). C tetraammineaquabromonitrocobaltate(III).
B tetraammineaquabromocobalt(III)nitrate. D D. tetraammineaquabromidocobalt(III)nitrate
 b) Oxidation number of iron in [Fe(CN)6]-3 ion is ……-3. [+3]
c) What is the essential feature required in a molecule or an ion for it to be the ligand of
coordination compound?
Ligand should have at least one lone pair of electrons in their outer most orbitals.
d) Study the formula of a coordination compound given below and answer the questions that
follow:

e) Draw the structure of a compound showing only the secondary valency.

f) Why are secondary valency important?

Secondary valency define the geometry of the compound.
Or, Secondary valency can be used to determine the coordination number
g) How many ions are formed when it is dissolved in water?

4 ions are formed. , 3Cl-

h) Transition elements form coloured compounds. Justify.
Most of the transition elements form coloured compounds both in solid state as well as in aqueous
solution. The transition metals have incomplete d-orbital. The electrons are to be promoted from a
lower energy level to a higher energy level. Some amount of energy is required for this process and the
radiations of light are observed in the visible region. The compounds absorb a particular colour from
the radiation and the remaining ones are emitted. For e.g., Cu2+ are bluish green in colour due to
absorption of red light wavelength. As Zn has completely filled d-orbitals it cannot absorb radiation
and hence Zn2+salts are white (colourless) and some elements other than Zn also appear colourless
depending on their oxidation state. For e.g., Sc3+, Ti4+ and Cu+ have completely filled d-orbitals and
hence they appear colourless .
2021 BHSEC
a) The charge on a complex ion of the complex [Cr(NH 3)5 Cl2] Cl is
A +3 C –3
B +1 D –1
b) Tetraammineaquaiodocobalt(III)sulphate is a coloured coordination complex. The formula of the
compound is
A [Co(NH3)4(H2O)I]SO4 . C C [Co(NH3)4(H2O)I]2(SO4)3.
B [Co(NH3)4(H2O)I](SO4)2. D [Co(NH3)4(H2O)I]2(SO4)5.
c) The table below shows a list of complex ions and their corresponding colours
Complex ions Colour
A [Ti(H2O)6] 3+
violet d) What conclusion can you draw from the information
given in the table?
B [Co(H2O)6]2+ red
Colour of complex ion depends on the nature of ligands
C [Ni(H2O)6]2+ blue green
Colour of complex ion depends on the nature of
D [Ni(NH3)6]2+ blue
central metal
e) Answer the following questions based on the given coordination compound. i. I i.
K[Co(CN)3(CO)2(H2O)].
i. Identify the neutral ligand(s).
CO and H2O
ii. Calculate the oxidation number of central metal.

f) Name the metals which are part of coordination compounds found naturally in plants and animals.
Iron, magnesium and cobalt

g) Complexes of are coloured while that of are colourless though both are transition
metals. Explain.

d- orbital of is incompletely filled whereas d- orbital of is completely filled

Or, has unpaired electrons in d-orbital whereas has paired electrons.