Which one of the following has a square planar geometry?
(A)[CoCl4]2−
(B)[FeCl4]2−
(C)[NiCl4]2−
(D)[PtCl4]2−✓ Correct
Answer: (D)
Solution
With the weak-field chloride ligand the tetrachlorides of Co2+, Fe2+ and Ni2+ adopt sp3 hybridisation and are tetrahedral. Platinum(II), however, is a d8 centre that almost always forms square-planar complexes through dsp2 hybridisation, even with halide ligands. Hence [PtCl4]2− is the square-planar species among these.
JEE Main · 2007 · 29 Apr 2007 · Offline · Single correct option