Textbook Problem 6D #11

[Alyssa Ly 2G]

Hi!

"Decide whether an aqueous solution of each of the following salts has a pH equal to, greater than, or less than 7. If pH > 7 or pH < 7, write a chemical equation to justify your answer. (e) AlCl3 (f) Cu(NO3)2"

For part (e) and (f), I am confused as to why it is Al(H2O)6 ^3+ (for part e) and Cu(H2O)6 ^2+ (for part f) for the chemical equations. Can someone explain this part to me?

THANK YOU!

[Coline Luo 2E]

When these compounds are in an aqueous solution, the transition metals essentially form a coordinate compounds with the water molecules. The number of molecules is determined by the maximum number of molecules that can bind with the transition metal: four, six, or eight. The coordination number is determined by the hybridization of the other orbitals. For example, in Fe2+, the 4s, 4p, and 4d shells all hybridize to accept one electron, thus creating 6 bonding regions.