Question

With reference to the coordination complex ion [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺ answer the following: (at. no. of Fe = 26)

1. Give the IUPAC name of the complex ion.
2. What is the oxidation number of the central metal atom?
3. How many unpaired electrons are there in the complex ion?
4. State the type of hybridisation of the complex ion.

Answer 1

1. Hexaaquairon(II) ion
2. The oxidation number of Fe is +2.
3. The electron configuration of Fe(II) can be used to calculate the number of unpaired electrons in the complex ion. The electron configuration of iron (Fe) in the +2 oxidation state [Ar]3d⁶. There are four unpaired electrons in this arrangement.
4. The type of hybridisation of the complex ion is sp³d².