[gkasparis]

hey!!!
I'm new, I'm a first year undergraduate student and i have the following question

i have a compound Na_n[Co(CO)₄] with magnetic moment = 0 BM
therefore there are no unpaired electrons.
the complex must be the anionic part, since the CO is neutral the n (number of Na) is equal to the oxidation state of Co.
it's not completely clear to me the steric vs electronic reasons argument to decide the geometry in order to draw possible dⁿ configurations with the paired electrons to find the oxidation states Co could be.
i have already tried both ways, but the oxidation states i come out with seem rather unusual to me.

any help will be much appreciated

thanks in advance
gkasparis

[dipesh747]

This website should clear things up for you. http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm/spectra/MagMom.html

[gkasparis]

indeed the oxidation of cobalt seems to be -1, that was the unusual OS i was talking about

thanks dipesh747