Chromium hexacabonyl is an octahedral compound involving :

Options

A. `sp^(3)d^(2)`
B. `dsp^(2)`
C. `d^(2)sp^(3)`
D. `dsp^(3)`

Answer

To determine the characteristics of chromium hexacarbonyl, we can break down the problem into several steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Compound
Chromium hexacarbonyl is denoted as Cr(CO)₆. It consists of a chromium ion coordinated with six carbonyl (CO) ligands.

**Hint:** Look for the central metal ion and the ligands attached to it.

### Step 2: Determine the Oxidation State of Chromium
In chromium hexacarbonyl, carbonyl (CO) is a neutral ligand, which means it does not contribute any charge. Therefore, the oxidation state of chromium in this complex is 0.

**Hint:** Remember that neutral ligands do not affect the oxidation state of the central metal.

### Step 3: Write the Electron Configuration of Chromium
The electron configuration of chromium (Cr) in its elemental form is [Ar] 4s² 3d⁴. Since chromium is in the zero oxidation state, it retains all its electrons.

**Hint:** Use the periodic table to find the electron configuration of chromium.

### Step 4: Consider the Ligand Field Theory
Carbonyl is a strong field ligand, which means it can cause pairing of electrons in the d-orbitals. In the presence of six carbonyl ligands, the 3d electrons will pair up.

**Hint:** Strong field ligands can lead to the pairing of electrons in the lower energy d-orbitals.

### Step 5: Determine the Hybridization
With six ligands surrounding the chromium ion, the hybridization can be determined. The pairing of the 3d electrons and the involvement of the 4s and 4p orbitals leads to a hybridization of D₂sp³.

**Hint:** For octahedral complexes, the hybridization can often be determined by the number of ligands and the orbitals involved.

### Step 6: Identify the Geometry of the Compound
Since chromium hexacarbonyl has a D₂sp³ hybridization, it adopts an octahedral geometry.

**Hint:** The arrangement of ligands around the central metal ion can help you visualize the geometry.

### Final Answer
Chromium hexacarbonyl (Cr(CO)₆) is an octahedral compound involving D₂sp³ hybridization.

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