Chemistry of coordination compounds: every question, 2016 to 2025

Notes: Crystal field theory (full notes) · short notes

Notes: Werner theory, isomerism, IUPAC names and VBT of complexes (full notes) · short notes

Notes: Substitution in complexes: labile and inert, trans effect, stability constants (full notes) · short notes

Notes: Electronic spectra of complexes: term symbols, selection rules, charge transfer (full notes) · short notes

2025

• Q1(b) Isomerism in [(NH₃)₅CoONO]Cl₂ and [(NH₃)₅CoNO₂]Cl₂5 marks Answered
• Q1(c) Trans effect: Niᴵᴵ, Ptᴵᴵ, Pdᴵᴵ5 marks Answered
• Q5(a) Structure and geometry of four species10 marks Question only
• Q5(b) Ligand field strength of four Cr(III) complexes10 marks Question only
• Q7(a) Thermodynamic and kinetic stability of three cyanide complexes10 marks Question only
• Q7(b) Jahn–Teller effect and the spectra of octahedral Ni(III)10 marks Question only
• Q11(b) cis- and trans-[PtCl₂(NH₃)₂] with thiourea5 marks Question only
• Q11(c) Pale pink octahedral and intense blue tetrahedral Co²⁺10 marks Question only

2024

• Q1(b) Magnetic moment of titanium(III)5 marks Answered
• Q1(f) Oxidising power and charge transfer5 marks Answered
• Q2(b)(i) Regular and flattened tetrahedra5 marks Answered
• Q2(b)(ii) Two bands in high-spin [CoF₆]³⁻5 marks Answered
• Q4(a) Colour of oxy- and deoxyhaemoglobin10 marks Question only
• Q4(b) Trans-effect control of platinum isomers10 marks Question only
• Q7(c) Why thick bottle glass looks coloured10 marks Question only

2023

• Q1(b) Labile and inert complexes5 marks Answered
• Q1(j) Magnetism of vanadium ions5 marks Answered
• Q2(a) Trans-effect control of platinum substitution10 marks Question only
• Q2(b) Kurnakov test for cis and trans complexes10 marks Question only
• Q2(c) Jahn-Teller splitting in Ti(III) spectra10 marks Question only
• Q4(a) Crystal-field assumptions and d-orbital splitting20 marks Answered
• Q4(b) Spectrochemical and nephelauxetic series10 marks Answered

2022

• Q1(b) Ground terms by L-S coupling5 marks Answered
• Q1(c) Square-planar stereoisomers5 marks Answered
• Q3(a) Jahn-Teller distortion across d¹–d⁹10 marks Question only
• Q3(b) Factors controlling crystal-field splitting10 marks Question only
• Q3(c) Spin-only magnetic moments10 marks Question only
• Q4(a) VBT for tetrahedral nickel complexes10 marks Answered
• Q4(b) Selection rules and absorption intensity10 marks Answered
• Q4(c) Square-planar tetracyanonickelate(II)10 marks Answered
• Q8(b) Stepwise formation of diamminesilver(I)10 marks Answered
• Q11(b) Using magnetism to distinguish spin states10 marks Answered

2021

• Q1(b) Fifth ammonia ligand on copper(II)5 marks Answered
• Q1(c) Why hydride and phosphine are strong-field ligands5 marks Answered
• Q1(j) Orbital contribution to magnetic moments5 marks Answered
• Q3(a) Cobalt complexes: spin states and a charge error5 marks Question only
• Q4(a) Assigning Co(III) absorption intensities15 marks Question only
• Q4(b)(i) Square-planar spin alternatives10 marks Question only
• Q4(b)(ii) Relative lability of cyanide complexes5 marks Question only
• Q5(a) Jahn-Teller structure of hexaaquachromium(II)10 marks Answered
• Q5(b) Trans-effect control of platinum products10 marks Answered
• Q5(c) Successive ethylenediamine formation constants10 marks Answered

2020

• Q1(b) Trans effect5 marks Answered
• Q3(b) Square-planar nickel splitting10 marks Answered
• Q3(c) Intense permanganate colour5 marks Answered
• Q4(a) Broad asymmetric copper band15 marks Answered
• Q4(b) Nickel ligand-field parameters15 marks Answered

2019

• Q2(d) Radius ratio and coordination5 marks Answered
• Q4(a) Inner- and outer-orbital complexes10 marks Answered
• Q4(b) Nickel chloride and cyanide complexes10 marks Answered
• Q5(a) High-spin and low-spin complexes; rarity of low-spin tetrahedral10 marks Question only
• Q5(b) CFSE in octahedral and tetrahedral fields10 marks Question only
• Q5(c) Distorted octahedral Cu²⁺ in CuF₂10 marks Question only
• Q6(a) Writing coordination formulas10 marks Answered
• Q6(b) Square-planar and octahedral isomers10 marks Answered
• Q10(b) Selection rules; weak broad d–d bands10 marks Question only

2018

• Q1(b) Coordination nomenclature5 marks Answered
• Q1(c) Werner valencies and isomers5 marks Answered
• Q4(b) Relative absorption intensities10 marks Answered
• Q4(c) CFSE and pairing10 marks Answered
• Q5(a) Jahn–Teller effect and stabilisation energy for Cu(II)10 marks Question only

2017

• Q2(b) Lewis acidity across the first transition series10 marks Answered
• Q4(a) Cis and trans chelate structures10 marks Answered
• Q4(b) Jahn–Teller activity10 marks Answered
• Q4(c) Octahedral ground states10 marks Answered
• Q5(a) Products of [Co(NH₃)₅Cl]²⁺ with nitrite and thiocyanate10 marks Question only
• Q5(b) Which complex is perfectly octahedral10 marks Question only
• Q5(c) Labile or inert complex10 marks Question only
• Q11(b) Permanganate colour10 marks Answered
• Q11(c) d-one and d-nine octahedral terms10 marks Answered

2016

• Q1(h) Square-planar geometrical isomers5 marks Answered
• Q3(c) Copper acetate paddlewheel10 marks Answered
• Q4(a) Crystal field splitting in octahedral and tetrahedral fields15 marks Question only
• Q6(a) Tetragonal distortion10 marks Answered
• Q7(b) Magnetic moments of [Mn(CN)₆]³⁻ and [MnBr₄]²⁻10 marks Question only