Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-chemistry-b-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2025/paper-2/b6/b/v/solution

Both complexes contain cobalt(III), hence a metal ion. The approximately octahedral molecular geometry, relatively high metal oxidation state and five ammonia donors make the octahedral splitting large enough that pairing is favorable. Their low-spin configuration is
All six metal electrons are paired, and the ligands in coordination chemistry have closed shells, so neither complex has a permanent spin magnetic moment: both exhibit diamagnetism. The difference between N and O attachment is insufficient to change this low-spin assignment.

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