Which among the following compounds has maximum paramagnetic character?(a)FeSO4(b)ZnSO4(c)Fe2(SO4)3(d)CuSO4
ScanSolve AI Answer
Step-by-step solution
2 stepsTo determine which compound has the maximum paramagnetic character, we need to look at the number of unpaired electrons in the central metal ion. Paramagnetism arises from the presence of unpaired electrons.
Step 1: Identify the central metal ion and its oxidation state in each compound.
Part a
FeSO₄: Iron (Fe) is the central metal. Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) has a charge of -2. Therefore, Fe has an oxidation state of +2 (Fe²⁺).
Part b
ZnSO₄: Zinc (Zn) is the central metal. Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) has a charge of -2. Therefore, Zn has an oxidation state of +2 (Zn²⁺).
- (c) Fe₂(SO₄)₃: Iron (Fe) is the central metal. There are two Fe ions and three SO₄²⁻ ions. The total charge from sulfate is 3 × (-2) = -6. To balance this, the total charge from the two Fe ions must be +6, so each Fe ion has an oxidation state of +3 (Fe³⁺).
Part d· 2 steps
CuSO₄: Copper (Cu) is the central metal. Sulfate (SO₄²⁻) has a charge of -2. Therefore, Cu has an oxidation state of +2 (Cu²⁺).
Determine the electronic configuration of each metal ion and count the unpaired electrons.
- Iron (Fe) has atomic number 26. Its electronic configuration is [Ar] 3d⁶ 4s².
- Fe²⁺: Loses two 4s electrons. Configuration is [Ar] 3d⁶. The 3d subshell has 6 electrons. Filling the 3d orbitals (5 orbitals): ↑↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑. There are 4 unpaired electrons.
- Zinc (Zn) has atomic number 30. Its electronic configuration is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s².
- Zn²⁺: Loses two 4s electrons. Configuration is [Ar] 3d¹⁰. The 3d subshell is completely filled. There are 0 unpaired electrons.
- Fe³⁺: Loses two 4s electrons and one 3d electron. Configuration is [Ar] 3d⁵. The 3d subshell has 5 electrons. Filling the 3d orbitals: ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑. There are 5 unpaired electrons.
- Copper (Cu) has atomic number 29. Its electronic configuration is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹.
- Cu²⁺: Loses one 4s electron and one 3d electron. Configuration is [Ar] 3d⁹. The 3d subshell has 9 electrons. Filling the 3d orbitals: ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑↓ ↑. There is 1 unpaired electron.
- Iron (Fe) has atomic number 26. Its electronic configuration is [Ar] 3d⁶ 4s².
Compare the number of unpaired electrons.
- FeSO₄ (Fe²⁺): 4 unpaired electrons
- ZnSO₄ (Zn²⁺): 0 unpaired electrons
- Fe₂(SO₄)₃ (Fe³⁺): 5 unpaired electrons
- CuSO₄ (Cu²⁺): 1 unpaired electron
The compound with the maximum number of unpaired electrons will have the maximum paramagnetic character. Fe³⁺ in Fe₂(SO₄)₃ has 5 unpaired electrons, which is the highest among the given options.
The compound with the maximum paramagnetic character is (c) Fe₂(SO₄)₃.
Still stuck on this one?
Ask a follow-up, and the answer starts from this question.