In Werner's theory, what does the term 'primary valence' refer to?
Practice Questions
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Q1
In Werner's theory, what does the term 'primary valence' refer to?
The oxidation state of the metal
The number of ligands
The type of ligands
The geometry of the complex
Primary valence refers to the oxidation state of the central metal atom in a coordination compound.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: In Werner's theory, what does the term 'primary valence' refer to?
Solution: Primary valence refers to the oxidation state of the central metal atom in a coordination compound.
Steps: 4
Step 1: Understand that Werner's theory is about coordination compounds, which are complex structures formed by a central metal atom and surrounding molecules or ions.
Step 2: Identify what 'primary valence' means in this context. It relates to the charge or oxidation state of the central metal atom.
Step 3: Recognize that the oxidation state indicates how many electrons the metal atom has lost or gained.
Step 4: Conclude that 'primary valence' is essentially the number that tells us the metal's charge in the coordination compound.