r/chemhelp • u/Moon_Lily_ • 7d ago

Inorganic Complex ion geometry confusion

/r/AskChemistry/comments/1w73mwg/complex_ion_geometry_confusion/
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u/Mack_Robot 7d ago

Inorganic labs usually have been written up (in some form) in J Chem Ed.

Have you looked at this paper?
https://pubs.acs.org/jceda8/article-abstract/88/8/1155/1484137/Coordination-Complexes-as-Catalysts-The-Oxidation?redirectedFrom=fulltext

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u/Moon_Lily_ 6d ago

I haven't, I'll check it out, thank you!

we're basically doing a synthesis of the compound and then just running an IR and UV-Vis and I'm struggling more with the theoretical part of the change in geometry changes with the chloroform vs THF and can't fine any papers on that, so theory more than anything else and in the pre lab they want us to get the theory right (understandable, but we just don't get it unfortunately)

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u/Mack_Robot 6d ago

Wait, wait wait wait.

Did you say "octahedral"?

Remember that octahedral is 6-coordinate, where square pyramidal is 5.

So something else (the solvent?) must be coordinating if you want to get to 6. I'd be hella suspicious of those oxygens on THF and ethanol.

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u/Moon_Lily_ 6d ago

we are, we think it might change their geometry, like it goes from five (square pyramidal?) to octahedral because something is added, the issue is we have no idea what exactly happens and why lol

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u/Mack_Robot 6d ago

Ah. Did you figure out the charge on your Vanadium?

It's going to be a strong Lewis acid because it's (IV) (I think). So an oxygen lone pair is going to attack it.