Which of the following statements is true regarding coordination compounds?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following statements is true regarding coordination compounds?
They always have a fixed oxidation state.
They can exhibit different colors.
They cannot form isomers.
They are always soluble in water.
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following statements is true regarding coordination compounds?
Correct Answer: Coordination compounds can exhibit different colors due to the presence of different ligands and their ability to split d-orbitals.
Step 1: Understand what coordination compounds are. They are complex molecules formed from a central metal atom or ion bonded to surrounding molecules or ions called ligands.
Step 2: Learn about ligands. Ligands are the molecules or ions that attach to the central metal. They can be different types, such as anions or neutral molecules.
Step 3: Know about d-orbitals. In transition metals, the electrons are found in d-orbitals, which can split into different energy levels when ligands approach the metal.
Step 4: Recognize that the splitting of d-orbitals affects how the compound interacts with light. Different ligands cause different amounts of splitting.
Step 5: Understand that the amount of splitting determines the color of light absorbed by the compound. The color we see is the complementary color of the light absorbed.
