The homoleptic and octahedral complex of Co 2 + and H 2 O has ______ unpaired electron(s) in the t 2 g set of orbitals.

Step-by-step solution

The electronic configuration of Co 2 + is 3 d 7 . In an octahedral complex of Co 2 + with H 2 O ligands, the d orbitals split into two sets of energy levels: t 2 g (lower energy) and e g (higher energy). In this case, since the complex is octahedral, we have six ligands surrounding the central cobalt ion. Each ligand donates a pair of electrons to the cobalt ion, occupying the available d orbitals. So, Co H 2 O 6 2 + = d 7 High   spin = t 2 g 5   e g 2 In the t 2 g   set of orbitals, there will be 1