CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

How do we know when to use Cobalt or Cobaltate when naming these compounds in this homework problem?

Cobaltate is used when the compound is an ion with a net negative charge while cobalt is used when the molecule has a net positive charge. Other TMs like iron can become ferrate when they have a net negative charge. Hope this helps.

We use cobalt in our answer for b and d because there is a positive charge on the complex and we use cobaltate in our answer for c because the complex has a negative charge.

You use cobalt if its part of the cation and cobaltate if its part of the anion