Achieve #6

[905574994]

Hi guys,

Could someone please walk me through how to find the oxidation number of this complex?

[Co(NH3)4Cl2]Cl

Thanks

[Riya Sawhney 1C]

[Co(NH3)4Cl2]Cl

First, we know that ammonia, NH3, is net neutral, so the individual oxidation numbers in it must add up to zero. We don't need to know specifically what they are, just that ammonia is neural.

Next, we know that chlorine, both in the oxidation sphere and out of it have an oxidation number of -1, as chlorine gains an electron in a bond. So we have 3 -1 charges.

Finally, we know that the molecule as a whole is neutral. Therefore we know that colbalt has an oxidation state of +3, so it is named as colbalt (III).

[Elsie_Lin_2K]

To add on, you could put the oxidation numbers as an equation it is easier to view what is positive and what is negative. In this case, you would write it as
x+ 4(0)+(-1)(2)-1=0; x=+3