In potassium ferrocyanide, there are ____ pairs of electrons in the t2g set of orbitals
Answer: 3
Solution
Potassium ferrocyanide is K4[Fe(CN)6], in which iron is present as iron(II) with a 3d6 configuration. Cyanide is a strong-field ligand, so in this octahedral complex the six d electrons are driven into the lower t2g set, giving t2g6eg0. Six electrons filling the three t2g orbitals make three completely filled pairs, so there are three pairs of electrons in the t2g orbitals.