Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Chemistry

Chapter

Inorganic: Coordination Compounds

Question:

Select the correct increasing order of conductivity of the given complexes in their solution

(A) $[Co(NH_3)_6]Cl_3$
(B) $[Cr(NH_3)_5Cl] Cl_2$
(C) $[Co(NH_3)_4Cl_2] Cl$
(D) $[Co(NH_3)_3Cl_3]$

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Options:

(A), (B), (C), (D)

(A), (D), (B), (A)

(D), (C), (B), (A)

(C), (B), (D), (A)

Correct Answer:

(D), (C), (B), (A)

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (3) → (D), (C), (B), (A)

The electrical conductivity of coordination compounds in aqueous solution depends on the number of ions produced per formula unit (i.e., the degree of ionization). The complexes dissociate as follows:

  • (D) [Co(NH₃)₃Cl₃]: Neutral complex (all Cl⁻ inside coordination sphere) → no ionsnon-conducting.
  • (C) [Co(NH₃)₄Cl₂]Cl: Dissociates into [Co(NH₃)₄Cl₂]⁺ + Cl⁻2 ions → 1:1 electrolyte.
  • (B) [Cr(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂: Dissociates into [Cr(NH₃)₅Cl]²⁺ + 2Cl⁻3 ions → 1:2 electrolyte.
  • (A) [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl₃: Dissociates into [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ + 3Cl⁻4 ions → 1:3 electrolyte.

Increasing order of conductivity:

No ions < 2 ions < 3 ions < 4 ions(D) < (C) < (B) < (A)

This is a standard concept in coordination chemistry (van’t Hoff factor and molar conductance increase with more ions). All these are +3 metal complexes with chloride ligands outside the sphere determining ionization.

Thus, the correct option is (D), (C), (B), (A)