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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: nimboy25 on May 01, 2018, 09:10:56 PM

Title: What is the chemical structure of PtCl4 and why? (and what molecular shape?)
Post by: nimboy25 on May 01, 2018, 09:10:56 PM

This is a question that came up in a bonding unit in chemistry.

Title: Re: What is the chemical structure of PtCl4 and why? (and what molecular shape?)
Post by: Mitch on May 02, 2018, 12:42:13 AM

Do you have an educated guess? Maybe something based on VSEPR.

Title: Re: What is the chemical structure of PtCl4 and why? (and what molecular shape?)
Post by: jestearns on May 07, 2018, 11:27:09 PM

Are you an instructor asking a question or are you a student requesting assistance?  Assuming the latter, start by looking up the electronic structure of Pt and counting the valence electrons.

Title: Re: What is the chemical structure of PtCl4 and why? (and what molecular shape?)
Post by: Flatbutterfly on May 15, 2018, 09:17:26 PM

PtCl4 has a chain structure with octahedral Pt and Pt-Cl-Pt bridges that can not be predicted using simple arguments.
I think you may mean [PtCl4]^2- the most common starting material of Pt.  It is square planar d^8.