Square Planar Complex
What is Square Planar Complex?
A square planar complex is a type of coordination compound in which four ligands are arranged around the central metal ion at the corners of a square, with the metal at the center in the same plane. This geometry (dsp² hybridization) is most commonly adopted by transition metal ions with d⁸ electron configurations, such as Pt²⁺, Pd²⁺, Au³⁺, and Ni²⁺ with strong-field ligands. Square planar complexes are diamagnetic when the d⁸ configuration involves complete pairing in the lower-energy d-orbitals.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
A square planar complex is a type of coordination compound in which four ligands are arranged around the central metal ion at the corners of a square, with the metal at the center in the same plane. This geometry (dsp² hybridization) is most commonly adopted by transition metal ions with d⁸ electron configurations, such as Pt²⁺, Pd²⁺, Au³⁺, and Ni²⁺ with strong-field ligands. Square planar complexes are diamagnetic when the d⁸ configuration involves complete pairing in the lower-energy d-orbitals.