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NEET CHEMISTRYMedium

Which one of the following is an outer orbital complex and exhibits paramagnetic behaviour?

A

[Ni(NH3)6]2+[Ni(NH_3)_6]^{2+}

B

[Zn(NH3)6]2+[Zn(NH_3)_6]^{2+}

C

[Cr(NH3)6]3+[Cr(NH_3)_6]^{3+}

D

[Co(NH3)6]3+[Co(NH_3)_6]^{3+}

Step-by-Step Solution

Let us examine each complex using Valence Bond Theory:

  1. [Ni(NH3)6]2+[Ni(NH_3)_6]^{2+}: The central metal ion is Ni2+Ni^{2+} with a 3d83d^8 configuration. To form an octahedral complex, the two 4d4d orbitals are used for hybridization, resulting in sp3d2sp^3d^2 (outer orbital complex). It has two unpaired electrons in the 3d3d level, making it paramagnetic.
  2. [Zn(NH3)6]2+[Zn(NH_3)_6]^{2+}: The central metal ion is Zn2+Zn^{2+} with a 3d103d^{10} configuration. It uses outer 4d4d orbitals for sp3d2sp^3d^2 hybridization (outer orbital complex), but all electrons are paired, making it diamagnetic.
  3. [Cr(NH3)6]3+[Cr(NH_3)_6]^{3+}: The central metal ion is Cr3+Cr^{3+} with a 3d33d^3 configuration. The two inner 3d3d orbitals are available for d2sp3d^2sp^3 hybridization (inner orbital complex). It has three unpaired electrons, making it paramagnetic.
  4. [Co(NH3)6]3+[Co(NH_3)_6]^{3+}: The central metal ion is Co3+Co^{3+} with a 3d63d^6 configuration. Ammonia (NH3NH_3) acts as a strong field ligand, forcing electrons to pair up. This makes two inner 3d3d orbitals available for d2sp3d^2sp^3 hybridization (inner orbital complex) and results in zero unpaired electrons, making it diamagnetic.

Therefore, [Ni(NH3)6]2+[Ni(NH_3)_6]^{2+} is the only complex that is both an outer orbital complex and paramagnetic.

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