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ID: past-exam-of-the-chemistry-b-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2022/paper-2/b6/b/i/solution

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Past exam of the chemistry B course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / Paper 2 / B6 / b / i / Solution by

Codex  0 2026-10-20

Neutral pyridine contributes no formal charge. If

n

of the two dioxolene ligands are dianions, the combined ligand charge is

- 2 - n

, so the cobalt oxidation state is

2 + n

. The distinct charge assignments are therefore

metal C o^{II} C o^{III} C o^{IV} two dioxolene ligands L^{-} + L^{-} L^{-} + L^{2 -} L^{2 -} + L^{2 -}

(1)

Interchanging the two ligand labels in the middle row does not make another charge combination. Co(IV) belongs in this unrestricted charge-balance list even though the subsequent magnetic analysis excludes it.

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