Question

Explain the structure of CoCl₃.4NH₃,on the basis of Werner's theory.

Answer 1

In this compound, two chloride ions exhibit dual behaviour of satisfying both Primary and Secondary Valencies. This compound will give precipitate with silver nitrate corresponding to only one Cl^- ion and the total number of ions in this case is 2. Hence it can be formulated as [CoCl₂(NH₃)₄]Cl.