Final answer:
The student's question pertains to determining the number of individual ions per formula unit and the coordination number of the metal ion in coordination compounds. Each compound's coordination number depends on the number and type of ligands surrounding the central metal ion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asks for the number of individual ions per formula unit and the coordination number of the metal ions in various coordination compounds. Coordination compounds are named for the specific arrangement of ligands (molecules or ions that donate at least one pair of electrons to a central metal ion) around the central metal ion. This arrangement is defined by the coordination number, which is the total number of ligand bonds to the central metal ion.
For example:
- In dibromobis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) sulfate, the cobalt metal ion (Co) has six coordination sites because ethylenediamine is bidentate (each molecule can form two bonds) and there are two bromide ions (Br) as well. Therefore, the coordination number of cobalt is 6.
- For tetrahydroxozincate(II), the coordination number is 4 as it forms a tetrahedron.
- The hexacyanopalladate(IV) has a coordination number of 6 due to the six cyanide ions bound to palladium.
- dichloroaurate(I) would have a coordination number of 2 as there are two chloride ligands bound to the gold ion.
Coordination numbers for the metal ions in various compounds such as [Co(NH3)4Br2]2+, which has a coordination number of 6 (4 ammine ligands and 2 bromide ligands), and [Cu(NH3)4]2+, with a coordination number of 4 (4 ammine ligands), are essential for understanding the three-dimensional shape and potential chemical reactivity of the metal complex.