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General Science • ChemistryMedium

What is the correct IUPAC systematic name for the organic coordination compound represented by the formula potassium hexacyanoferrate 2?

A. Potassium hexacyanidoferrate 2✓ Correct Answer
B. Potassium hexacyanoferrate 3
C. Tripotassium hexacyanoferrate
D. Potassium pentacyanoferrate

💡 Solution & Explanation

According to IUPAC nomenclature rules for coordination complexes, the name lists the cation first, followed by anionic ligands alphabetically with appropriate prefixes, and ends with the metal name and its oxidation state in Roman numerals. Hexacyanoferrate 2 corresponds to iron in the plus two oxidation state, whereas ferricyanide corresponds to iron plus three. Prefixes like hexa indicate six cyanide ligands attached to the central metal atom. Potassium hexacyanoferrate 2 is commonly known as potassium ferrocyanide.

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