NVAEasyJEE 2023Ligands & Coordination Number

JEE Chemistry 2023 Question with Solution

Total number of moles of AgCl precipitated on addition of excess of AgNO3_3 to one mole each of the following complexes: [Co(NH3)4Cl2]Cl\mathrm{[Co(NH_3)_4Cl_2]Cl}, [Ni(H2O)6]Cl2\mathrm{[Ni(H_2O)_6]Cl_2}, [Pt(NH3)2Cl2]\mathrm{[Pt(NH_3)_2Cl_2]}, and [Pd(NH3)4]Cl2\mathrm{[Pd(NH_3)_4]Cl_2}

Answer

Correct answer:5

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: One mole each of [Co(NH3)4Cl2]Cl\mathrm{[Co(NH_3)_4Cl_2]Cl}, [Ni(H2O)6]Cl2\mathrm{[Ni(H_2O)_6]Cl_2}, [Pt(NH3)2Cl2]\mathrm{[Pt(NH_3)_2Cl_2]} and [Pd(NH3)4]Cl2\mathrm{[Pd(NH_3)_4]Cl_2} is treated with excess AgNO3\mathrm{AgNO_3}.

Find: Total moles of AgCl precipitated.

Only the chloride ions present outside the coordination sphere are ionizable and precipitate with Ag+\mathrm{Ag^+} as AgCl.

For [Co(NH3)4Cl2]Cl\mathrm{[Co(NH_3)_4Cl_2]Cl}, there is 1 chloride ion outside the coordination sphere, so it gives 1 mole of AgCl.

For [Ni(H2O)6]Cl2\mathrm{[Ni(H_2O)_6]Cl_2}, there are 2 chloride ions outside the coordination sphere, so it gives 2 moles of AgCl.

For [Pt(NH3)2Cl2]\mathrm{[Pt(NH_3)_2Cl_2]}, there is no chloride ion outside the coordination sphere, so it gives 0 mole of AgCl.

For [Pd(NH3)4]Cl2\mathrm{[Pd(NH_3)_4]Cl_2}, there are 2 chloride ions outside the coordination sphere, so it gives 2 moles of AgCl.

Therefore,

Total moles of AgCl=1+2+0+2=5\text{Total moles of AgCl} = 1 + 2 + 0 + 2 = 5

Therefore, the total number of moles of AgCl precipitated is 55.

Ionizable Chloride Count

Given: Excess AgNO3\mathrm{AgNO_3} is added to one mole each complex.

Find: The total moles of AgCl formed.

Use the idea that only counter ions outside square brackets react with AgNO3\mathrm{AgNO_3}.

[Co(NH3)4Cl2]Clgives 1 mole AgCl\mathrm{[Co(NH_3)_4Cl_2]Cl} \rightarrow \text{gives 1 mole AgCl}[Ni(H2O)6]Cl2gives 2 moles AgCl\mathrm{[Ni(H_2O)_6]Cl_2} \rightarrow \text{gives 2 moles AgCl}[Pt(NH3)2Cl2]gives no AgCl\mathrm{[Pt(NH_3)_2Cl_2]} \rightarrow \text{gives no AgCl}[Pd(NH3)4]Cl2gives 2 moles AgCl\mathrm{[Pd(NH_3)_4]Cl_2} \rightarrow \text{gives 2 moles AgCl}

Adding them,

1+2+0+2=51 + 2 + 0 + 2 = 5

Hence, the required numerical value is 55.

Common mistakes

  • Counting all chloride atoms as precipitable is wrong because only chloride ions outside the coordination sphere react with Ag+\mathrm{Ag^+}. First identify which chlorides are counter ions.

  • Assuming [Pt(NH3)2Cl2]\mathrm{[Pt(NH_3)_2Cl_2]} gives AgCl is incorrect because both chloride ligands are inside the coordination sphere. Coordinated chloride does not precipitate directly with excess AgNO3\mathrm{AgNO_3} in this question.

  • Missing the bracket notation leads to error. In coordination compounds, species inside square brackets belong to the complex sphere, while ions outside brackets are ionizable and determine the amount of precipitate.

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