What is the IUPAC name of [AuCl4(H2O)2]-1? a)diaquatetrachloroaurate(0) b) diaquatetrachloroaurate(III) c)diaquatetrachloroaurate(I) d)diaquatetrachlorogold(III) e)diaquatetrachlorogold(I)

Jason Farmer

Jason Farmer

Answered question

2021-04-09

What is the IUPAC name of [AuCl4(H2O)2]-1?
a)diaquatetrachloroaurate(0)
b) diaquatetrachloroaurate(III)
c)diaquatetrachloroaurate(I)
d)diaquatetrachlorogold(III)
e)diaquatetrachlorogold(I)

Answer & Explanation

Ezra Herbert

Ezra Herbert

Skilled2021-04-11Added 99 answers

You probably want more than just the answer others are providing.The reason that the answer is C is as follows:
The overall charge of the ion is -1. What contributes to the charge? Cl and Au+, where the Au is not yet determined. Charges must be arithmetically conserved. Four chlorideions provid 4(-1) = -4 charge. But the molecule is -1 net charge.Thus, Charge Au + charge Cl = -1. Charge from Aumust equal +3, since 3 + (-4) = -1. Thus the roman numeral associated with the metal cation must be III. So that eliminatesthe answer to b or d.
Yet you must take into account of naming complex ions. Ligands (water, chloride ions, etc,) are named first alphabetically before the cation. Water has aqua- as a prefix. Chloride ion has thechloro- prefix. Also prefixes respective to each particular ligand preceds the ligan, although the numeral prefixes (di-, tetra-) donot affect alphabetical order.
By convention and history, gold cations in complex ions are given the root aurate (foreign language derivations). Other metal cations follow this too with other seemingly random names (mainly derived from foreign languages).
Thus the answer is b, because it satisfies all rules.

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