Account for the following: (i) [NiCl4 ]2− is paramagnetic while Ni(CO)4 is diamagnetic though both 4 are tetrahedral
Although both are tetrahedral,[NiCl4 ]2− is paramagnetic and Ni(CO)4is diamagnetic. has a structure of 3d8 4s2, indicating that it is in the zero oxidation state. CO, on the other hand, is a strong field ligand. As a result, it is diamagnetic in nature and induces the pairing of unpaired 3d electrons, but Cl− is a weak ligand and is unable to pair up the unpaired electrons, therefore [NiCl4 ]2− is paramagnetic in nature.
