Question

Answer the following about the structure of the iron pentacarbonyl metal complex, for 10 points each.
[10e] The carbonyl ligands bond to the iron with an antibonding orbital via this interaction, termed its namesake “backbonding.” P-orbitals overlap laterally in this interaction, which is found with a sigma bond in double bonds.
ANSWER: pi bond [accept pi backbonding]
[10m] Iron pentacarbonyl exhibits a low but present rate of Berry pseudorotation due to having this coordination geometry. In VSEPR theory, molecules with this geometry have three equatorial and two axial substituents.
ANSWER: trigonal bipyramidal
[10h] Iron pentacarbonyl obeys this statement governing the stability of transition metal complexes. Coordinatively saturated complexes satisfy this statement, but d8 complexes like Zeise’s salt are common counterexamples.
ANSWER: 18-electron rule
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Data

UIUC DIndiana B1010020
MiamiPurdue D1010020
Notre DameWashU C1010020
UChicago CPurdue A1010020
UChicago APurdue B1010020
WashU DPurdue C0000
WashU BUIUC A1010020
UIUC BIndiana A1010020
SIUE AUIUC C0101020