NVAMediumJEE 2025Crystal Field Theory

JEE Chemistry 2025 Question with Solution

Consider the following low-spin complexes K3[Co(NO3)6],K4[Fe(CN)6],K3[Fe(CN)6],Cu2[Fe(CN)6],Zn2[Fe(CN)6]K_3[Co(NO_3)_6], \, K_4[Fe(CN)_6], \, K_3[Fe(CN)_6], \, Cu_2[Fe(CN)_6], \, Zn_2[Fe(CN)_6] The sum of the spin-only magnetic moment values of complexes having yellow colour is: B.M.B.M. (answer is nearest integer)

Answer

Correct answer:0

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: The low-spin complexes are K3[Co(NO3)6],K4[Fe(CN)6],K3[Fe(CN)6],Cu2[Fe(CN)6],Zn2[Fe(CN)6]K_3[Co(NO_3)_6], \, K_4[Fe(CN)_6], \, K_3[Fe(CN)_6], \, Cu_2[Fe(CN)_6], \, Zn_2[Fe(CN)_6].

Find: The sum of the spin-only magnetic moment values of the complexes having yellow colour.

From the extracted solution, the yellow complexes identified are K3[Co(NO3)6]K_3[Co(NO_3)_6] and K4[Fe(CN)6]K_4[Fe(CN)_6].

For K3[Co(NO3)6]K_3[Co(NO_3)_6]:

μ=n(n+2)=0B.M.\mu = \sqrt{n(n+2)} = 0 \, \text{B.M.}

For K4[Fe(CN)6]K_4[Fe(CN)_6]:

μ=n(n+2)=0B.M.\mu = \sqrt{n(n+2)} = 0 \, \text{B.M.}

Therefore, the required sum is

0+0=00 + 0 = 0

So, the nearest integer answer is 00.

Using low-spin electron pairing

Given: We need the spin-only magnetic moment of the yellow low-spin complexes.

Find: Sum of their magnetic moments.

The solution states that in low-spin complexes, electrons pair in lower-energy orbitals, giving no unpaired electrons for the relevant yellow complexes.

For a spin-only magnetic moment,

μ=n(n+2)\mu = \sqrt{n(n+2)}

where nn is the number of unpaired electrons.

For the yellow complexes considered in the solution:

  1. K3[Co(NO3)6]K_3[Co(NO_3)_6] has n=0n = 0
  2. K4[Fe(CN)6]K_4[Fe(CN)_6] has n=0n = 0

Hence,

μ=0(0+2)=0B.M.\mu = \sqrt{0(0+2)} = 0 \, \text{B.M.}

for each.

Therefore,

Total magnetic moment=0+0=0B.M.\text{Total magnetic moment} = 0 + 0 = 0 \, \text{B.M.}

Thus, the answer is 00.

Common mistakes

  • A common mistake is to include all listed complexes without first identifying which ones are yellow. This is wrong because the question asks only for yellow-coloured complexes. First filter the complexes by colour, then add their magnetic moments.

  • Another mistake is to count unpaired electrons incorrectly in a low-spin complex. This gives a non-zero magnetic moment when the electrons are actually paired. Use the low-spin configuration before applying μ=n(n+2)\mu = \sqrt{n(n+2)}.

  • Students may use oxidation state information alone and ignore ligand field effects. That is incorrect because magnetic moment depends on the number of unpaired electrons after crystal field splitting. Determine the spin state first, then compute μ\mu.

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