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Explanation on inner and outer octahedral complexes
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Inner and outer octahedral complexes are coordination complexes with octahedral geometry. The difference between the two lies in the location of the ligands relative to the central metal ion.
Inner octahedral complexes have all six ligands bonded directly to the central metal ion. These complexes are typically formed with strong-field ligands, which donate a large amount of electrons to the metal ion. The metal-ligand bonds in inner octahedral complexes are typically short and strong.
Outer octahedral complexes have six ligands bonded to the metal ion, but not all of the ligands are bonded directly to the metal ion. Some of the ligands are bonded to the metal ion through a bridging ligand. Bridging ligands are ligands that can bond to more than one metal ion. The metal-ligand bonds in outer octahedral complexes are typically longer and weaker than the metal-ligand bonds in inner octahedral complexes.
The type of octahedral complex that is formed depends on the nature of the metal ion and the ligands. Strong-field ligands tend to form inner octahedral complexes, while weak-field ligands tend to form outer octahedral complexes. Smaller metal ions also tend to form inner octahedral complexes, while larger metal ions tend to form outer octahedral complexes.
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