Shape of Mg[Th(NO₃)₆] is

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

DSSSB PGT Chemistry (Female) Official Paper (Held On: 06 Jul, 2018 Shift 1)

Answer 1

CONCEPT:

Shape of Mg[Th(NO₃)₆]

Mg[Th(NO₃)₆] is a coordination compound where thorium (Th) is surrounded by six nitrate (NO₃) ligands.
Coordination compounds often exhibit specific geometries based on the arrangement of ligands around the central metal atom.
The geometry of the complex depends on the coordination number and ligand arrangement.
In this compound, the coordination number of Th is 12 due to the bidentate nature of nitrate ligands.

EXPLANATION:

Schematic-drawing-of-the-molecular-structure-of-ThIVNO36-all-the-nitrato-groups Q320

The coordination number 12 is associated with highly symmetrical geometries.
One of the common geometries for coordination number 12 is icosahedral geometry, which has 12 vertices and 20 triangular faces.
In Mg[Th(NO₃)₆], the nitrate ligands arrange themselves in an icosahedral geometry around the thorium atom.

Therefore, the correct shape of Mg[Th(NO₃)₆] is icosahedral, which corresponds to Option 3.