CO-ORDINATION COMPOUNDS

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. The reaction between yttrium metal Y and dilute

hydrochloric acid produces H2(g) and Y3+ ions. The molar
ratio of yttrium used to hydrogen produced is
(a) 1 : 2 (b) 1 : 3
(c) 2 : 1 (d) 2 : 3
Sol. (d)
2Y  6HCl 
 2YCl3  3H2
2 mol 3 mol

2. [Fe(H2O)6]2+ and [Fe(CN)6]4– differ in

(a) geometry, magnetic moment
(b) magnetic moment, colour
(c) geometry, hybridization
(d) hybridization, number of unpaired electrons
Sol. (b)

3. Identify the purple coloured product (X) formed in the

following reaction.
Mn2+ + PbO2  product (X)
conc. HNO3

(a) HMnO4 (b) Pb(NO3)2

(c) Mn(NO3)2 (d) H2MnO4

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Sol. (a)

4. An aqueous solution containing 0.02 mole of

[Co(NH3)5SO4]Br and 0.02 mole of [Co(NH3)5Br]SO4 was
prepared and its volume was made upto 2 litres. It was
divided into two equal parts.
1st part + excess AgNO3 [Y]
2nd part + excess BaCl2 [Z]. No. of moles of [Y] and
[Z] are respectively
(a) 0.01 and 0.01 (b) 0.02 and 0.01
(c) 0.01 and 0.02 (d) 0.02 and 0.02
Sol. (a)
moles .02
Concentration =   .01
volume 2

5. In Fe(CO)5, the Fe—C bond possesses.

(a)  character only (b) ionic character
(c) both  and  character (d)  - character only
Sol. (c)
In metal carbonyl organometallic compounds the bond
between metal atom and carbon monoxide ligand has both
 and  characters.

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6. Which of the following statements is not correct?
(a) HgSO4 is used as a catalyst in converting acetylene to
acetaldehyde.
(b) ZnSO4.7H2O on strong heating gives ZnO with the
liberation of SO2and O2.
(c) ZnSO4.7H2O on heating at 373K gives ZnSO4.2H2O.
(d) On sublimation, black variety of HgS changes to red
variety.
Sol. (c)
ZnSO4.7H2O  ZnSO4.H2O  ZnSO4.
373K
 H 2O
723K
 H2O

7. Among Ni(CO)4, [Ni(CN)4]2– and [Ni(Cl)4]2–

(a) [Ni(CO)4], [Ni(Cl)4]2– are diamagnetic and [Ni(CN)4]2–
is paramagnetic.
(b) [NiCl4]2–, [Ni(CN)4]2– are diamagnetic and [Ni(CO)4] is
paramagnetic.
(c) [Ni(CO)4], [Ni(CN)4]2– are diamagnetic and [NiCl4]2– is
paramagnetic.
(d) [Ni(CO)4] is diamagnetic and [NiCl4], [Ni(CN)4]2– are
paramagnetic.
Sol. (c)

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8. The bond length of C–O bond in carbon monoxide is 1.128
Å. The C–O bond in Fe(CO)5 is
(a) 1.158 Å (b) 1.128 Å
(c) 1.178 Å (d) 1.118 Å
Sol. (d)

9. Fe2(CO)9 is diamagnetic. Which of the following reasons is

correct?
(a) Presence of one CO as bridge group.
(b) Presence of monodentate ligand.
(c) Metal–metal (Fe–Fe) bond in molecule.
(d) Resonance hybridization of CO.
Sol. (c)

10. Amongst the following complexes, select the one having

highest magnetic dipole moment.
(a) [Cr (H2O)6]3+ (b) [Fe (H2O)6]2+
(c) [Cu (H2O)6]2+ (d) [Zn (H2O)6]2+
Sol. (b)
Because Fe2+ has four unpaired electrons.

11. A complex has the molecular formula Co.5NH3.NO2.Cl2.

One mole of this complex produces three moles of ions in
an aqueous solution. On reacting this solution with excess
of AgNO3 solution, we get 2 moles of white ppt. The
complex is
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 (a) [Co (NH3)4 (NO2)Cl] (NH3Cl)
(b) [Co (NH3)5Cl] (CINO2)
(c) [Co (NH3)5 NO2]Cl2
(d) [Co (NH3)5 NO2.Cl2]
Sol. (c)
[Co(NH3)5NO2]Cl2 can form three ions, one
[Co(NH3)5NO2]2+ and two Cl– ions.
As 1 mole of complex gives 2 moles of Cl– ions, 2 moles of
AgCl will be precipitated.

12. The co-ordination number and oxidation state of Cr in

K3[Cr(C2O4)3] are respectively
(a) 6 and +3 (b) 3 and 0
(c) 4 and +2 (d) 3 and +3
Sol. (a)
Co-ordination number of Cr3+ ion is six because chromium
ion is surrounded by three bidentate ligands.
For oxidation state of central metal ion
3+x–6=0 [where, x is the oxidation state of central
metal ion]

13. Which of the following compounds is expected to exhibit

optical isomerism? [en = ethylenediamine]
(a) cis-[Co(en)2Cl2] (b) cis-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2]
(c) trans-[Co(en)2Cl2] (d) trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2]

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Sol. (a)
Compound ‘a’ does not have any element of symmetry and
thus exhibit optical isomerism.
Cl Cl
Cl
Cl

en Co Co en

en en
Mirror

14. Hybridization of Fe in K3[Fe(CN)6] is

(a) sp3 (b) d2sp3
(c) sp3d2 (d) dsp3
Sol. (b)
In the given complex of Fe3+, as the co-ordination number
is ‘6’, there are two possibilities. It can be d2sp3 or sp3d2.
But the ligand attached with central metal ion, Fe3+, is
strong field ligand so it willpromate inner orbital complex,
d2sp3.

15. Mixture of (X) = 0.02 mole of [Co(NH3)5SO4]Br and 0.02

mole of [Co(NH3)5Br]SO4 was prepared in 2 litre of
solution
1 litre of mixture [X] + excess AgNO3 [Y]
1 litre of mixture [X] + excess BaCl2 [Z]
Number of moles of [Y] and [Z] are
(a) 0.01, 0.01 (b) 0.02, 0.01
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 (c) 0.01, 0.02 (d) 0.02, 0.02
Sol. (a)
[Y] isAgBr of which 0.01 mole is formed.
[Z] is BaSO4 of which 0.01 mole is formed.

16. Transition metal compounds are usually coloured. This is

due to the electronic transition
(a) from p orbital to s-orbital
(b) from d orbital to s-orbitals
(c) from d orbital to p-orbital
(d) within the d-orbitals
Sol. (d)
Many ionic and covalent compounds of transition elements
are coloured and this colouring property is due to d—d
electronic excitation. The colour of the compound is
complimentary to the colour absorbed.

17. What is the ratio of uncomplexed to complexed Zn2+ ion in

a solution that is 10 M in NH3, if the stability constant of
[Zn(NH3)4]2+ is 3  109?
(a) 3.3  109 (b) 3.3  1011
(c) 3.3  1014 (d) 3  1013
Sol. Zn2+ + 4NH3 [Zn(NH3)4]2+
[Zn(NH 3 ) 4 ]2
Kf =
[Zn 2 ] [NH 3 ]4

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 [Zn 2 ]
2

1

1
 3.3  1014
[Zn(NH 3 ) 4 ] K f [NH 3 ]4
3 10  (10) 4
9

 (c)

18. A compound has an empirical formula CoCl3.5NH3. When

an aqueous solution of this compound is mixed with excess
of silver nitrate, 2 moles of AgCl precipitates per mole of
the compound. On reaction with excess of HCl, no NH is 
4

detected. Hence the compound is

(a) [Co(NH3)5Cl2]Cl (b) [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2
(c) [Co(NH3)5Cl3] (d) [Co(NH3)4Cl2]Cl.NH3
Sol. As the moles of AgCl precipitated is 2 and no NH is 
4

detected on reaction with excess of HCl, so the compound

would be [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2.
 (b)

19. In nitroprusside ion, the iron and NO exist as FeII and NO+
rather than FeIII and NO. These forms can be distinguished
by
(a) estimating the concentration of iron
(b) measuring the concentration of CN
(c) measuring the solid state magnetic moment
(d) thermally decomposing the compound
Sol. Nitroprusside ion is [Fe(CN)5NO]2. If the central atom
iron is present here in Fe2+ form, its effective atomic
number will be 262 + (62) = 36 and the distribution of
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electrons in valence orbitals (hybridised and unhybridized)
of the Fe2+ will be
3d 4s 4p 4d

2 3
d sp hybridization

It has no unpaired electron. So this anionic complex is

diamagnetic. If the nitroprusside ion has Fe3+ and NO, the
electronic distribution will be such that it will have one
unpaired electron i.e. the complex will be paramagnetic.
3d 4s 4p 4d

2 3
d sp hybridization

Thus, magnetic moment measurement establishes that in

nitroprusside ion, the Fe and NO exist as FeII and NO+
rather thenFeIII and NO.
 (c)

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20. Which of the given statements is not true for the following
reaction?
[Cu(H2O)4]2+ + 4NH3 [Cu(NH3)4]2+ +4H2O
(a) It is a ligandsubstitution reaction.
(b) NH3 is a relatively strong field ligand while H2O is a
weak field ligand.
(c) During the reaction, there is a change in colour from
light blue to dark blue.
(d) [Cu(NH3)4]2+ has a tetrahedral structure and is
paramagnetic.
Sol. For 29Cu, outermost shell has electronic configuration of
3d104s1.
 Electronic configuration of Cu2+ = 3d94s°
9 o
3d 4s

But due to strong field ligand (NH3), unpaired electron of

3d9 jumps to 4p. Hence,
1
3d8 4so 4p

XX XX XX XX

 Hybridisation of Cu2+ in [Cu(NH3)4]2+ is dsp2 and it gives

the square planar geometry.
 (d)

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21. The IUPAC name of the complex [Ni(C4H7O2N2)2] formed
from the reaction of Ni2+ with dimethyl glyoxime is
(a) Bis(methylgloxal)nickel(II)
(b) Bis(dimethyloxime)nickelate(IV)
(c) Bis(2,3butanedioldioximato)nickel(II)
(d) Bis(2,3butanedionedioximato)nickel(II)
Sol.
O H O

H3CC=N N=CCH3
Ni
H3CC=N N=CCH3

O H O
or
Bis(dimethylglyoximato)nickel(II)

Bis(2,3butanedionedioximato)nickel(II)
 (d)

22. The hybridization states of the central atoms in the

complexes [Fe(CN)6]3, [Fe(CN)6]4and [Co(NO2)6]3 are
(a) d2sp3, sp3 and d4s2 respectively
(b) d2sp3, sp3dand sp3d2 respectively
(c) d2sp3, sp3d2 and dsp2 respectively
(d) all d2sp3
Sol. [Fe(CN)6]3 has Fe3+ ion.
Outermost shell of Fe3+ (Z = 26) has the following
configuration,
6 2
3d 4s

and outermost shell of Fe3+ has the configuration:

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 2
3d5 4s

But due to strong field ligand (CN), the pairing of

electrons takes place.
3d 4s 4p

XX XX XX XX XX XX

 Hybridisation is d2sp3.
[Fe(CN)6]4 has Fe2+ ion.
Outermost shell of Fe2+ has the following configuration:
3d
6 4so

But due to strong field ligand (CN), the pairing of

electrons takes place.
3d 4s 4p

XX XX XX XX XX XX

 Hybridisation is d2sp3.
[Co(NO2)6]3 has Co3+ ion.
Outermost shell of Co (Z = 24) has the following
configuration,
7 2
3d 4s

and outermost shell of Co3+ has the configuration:

6 o
3d 4s

But due to strong field ligand (NO2), pairing of electrons

occurs.
3d 4s 4p
XX XX XX XX XX XX

 Hybridisation is d2sp3.

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  (d)

23. Which of the following statement is incorrect?

(a) Most fourcoordinated complexes of Ni2+ ions are
square planar rather than tetrahedral.
(b) The [Fe(H2O)6]3+ ion is more paramagnetic than the
[Fe(CN)6]3 ion.
(c) Square planar complexes are more stable than
octahedral complexes.
(d) The [Fe(CN)6]4 ion is paramagnetic but [Fe(CN)6]3
ion is diamagnetic.
Sol. [Fe(CN)6]4 has Fe2+ and have no unpaired electron, so it is
diamagnetic and [Fe(CN)6]3 has Fe3+ and having one
unpaired electron, so it is paramagnetic.
 (d)

24. Which of the following statement is correct?

(a) [Co(NH3)6]2+ is oxidized to diamagnetic [Co(NH3)6]3+
by the oxygen in air.
(b) [Fe(CN)6]3 is stable but [FeF6]3 is unstable.
(c) [NiCl4]2is unstable with respect to [NiBr4]2.
(d) None of these.
Sol. With the promotion of one 3delectron to 5s or 4d, it
becomes loosely bonded to the nucleus and hence, it may

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 easily be removed and so, Co(II) will easily be oxidised
into Co(III).
 (a)

INTEGER TYPE QUESTIONS

25. The number of unpaired electrons in the complex ion
[CoF6]3 is
Sol. (4)
Configuration of Co = 3d74s2
Configuration of Co+3 = 3d6
Number of unpaired electron = 4

26. A metal complex having composition Cr(NH3)4 Cl2Br has

been isolated in two forms (A) and (B). The form (A) reacts
with AgNO3 to give a white precipitate readily soluble in
dilute aqueous ammonia, whereas (B) gives a pale yellow
precipitate soluble in concentrated ammonia. Write the
formula of (A) and (B) and state the hybridisation of
chromium in each. Calculate the magnetic moments (spin-
only value).
Sol. Complex, Cr(NH3)4Cl2Br, has two isomers. Since,
coordination number of Cr is six, the two forms may be
represented in the following way
[Cr(NH3)4ClBr]Cl [Cr(NH3)4Cl2]Br
(A) (B)

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 [Cr(NH3)4)ClBr] Cl + AgNO3 [Cr(NH3)4ClBr]NO3 +
AgCl
(A) White ppt
AgCl + 2NH4OH Ag(NH3)2Cl + 2H2O
Soluble
[Cr(NH3)4 Cl2] Br + AgNO3 [Cr(NH3)4Cl2] NO3 +
AgBr
(B) Pale yellow
AgBr + 2NH4OH Ag(NH3)2 Br + 2H2O
Soluble
The state of hybridisation of chromium in both the
complexes is d2sp3. Chromium is in trivalent state (Cr3+).
3d 4s 4p
XX XX XX XX XX XX

2 3
d sp hybridization

As three unpaired electrons are present, the magnetic

moment = n(n  2) B.M. = 3 5 B.M. = 3.87 B.M.

27. Oxidation state of Cr in the following complex is

4+
O2

(H2O)4Cr Cr(H2O)4
O O

Sol. (+3)
Among the bridging ligands, O2 is a neutral ligand and
[OO]2 is a bidentate negative ligand. Since the net charge
over the complex is 4+, each chromium atom has an
oxidation state of +3.
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28. If excess of AgNO3 solution is added to 100 ml of 0.024 M
solution of dichlorobis(ethylene diamine)cobalt(III)
chloride, how many moles of AgCl will be precipitated?
Sol. (0.0024)
The formula of the complex is [CoCl2(en)2]Cl.
[CoCl2(en)2]Cl + AgNO3AgCl + [CoCl2(en)2]NO3
Moles of complex = Moles of AgCl = 100  103 0.024 =
0.0024

29. The sum of coordination number and oxidation state of Cr

in K3[Cr(C2O4)3] are
Sol. (9)
Its coordination number will be 6 because it is bonded with
three bidentale ligands.
Oxidation no. of Cr in K3[Cr(C2O4)3] is x + 3(−2) + 3(+1) = 0
⇒x = + 3
Sum of coordination number and oxidation state = 6 + 3
=9
30. The CFSE for octahedral [CoCl6]4– is 18,000 cm–1. The
CFSE for tetrahedral [CoCl4]2– will be
Sol . (8000)
CFSE for octahedral and tetrahedral complex is related as

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 4
t  
9

Where  =CFSE for octahedral complex

 =CFSE for tetrahedral complex

 =1800 cm-1
4
t = ×18000=8000 cm-1
9

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