- 2069 Bhadra · 2.5 marks
Complex vs double salts; EAN of Fe(CN)₆
Short answer
Complex salts retain complex ions in solution, while double salts dissociate completely into simple ions. For Fe in [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻: Fe²⁺ (Z=26), EAN = 26 - 2 + 2×6 = 36.
Differentiate between complex salts and double salts. Calculate EAN of the central metal atom in Fe(CN)₆.
| Basis | Complex salt | Double salt |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | Metal ion bonded to ligands by coordinate bonds | Two simple salts crystallised together |
| In water | Complex ion stays intact | Splits into all simple ions |
| Example | K₄[Fe(CN)₆] | Mohr's salt, potash alum |
EAN of Fe in Fe(CN)₆
The complex ion is [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻, with Fe²⁺ (Z = 26). EAN = (Z − oxidation state) + 2 × (number of ligands) = 26 − 2 + 2 × 6 = 36
Answer: EAN = 36, the atomic number of krypton. (For [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ with Fe³⁺ the EAN would be 35.)
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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