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Coordination Compounds CBSE Class 12 MCQ & Practice Questions

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Coordination Compounds Revision Guide for CBSE Class 12 Chemistry

Coordination Compounds combines nomenclature, bonding, geometry, isomerism and magnetic behaviour. The chapter becomes much easier when oxidation state, coordination number and ligand type are identified before attempting the rest of a problem.

For CBSE Class 12 Chemistry, practise IUPAC naming, Werner concepts, isomerism, crystal field splitting, spin state and magnetic moment.

Important Topics

  • Ligands and coordination number
  • IUPAC nomenclature
  • Oxidation state and effective atomic number concepts
  • Structural and stereoisomerism
  • Crystal field splitting
  • Magnetic behaviour and colour

Important Formulae & Relationships

  • Magnetic moment μ = √(n(n+2)) BM
  • Oxidation state + ligand charges = charge on complex

Use formulas only after checking the required units, sign convention and assumptions for the question.

What to practise in Coordination Compounds

Concept Revision

Revise definitions, principles, equations, trends and core ideas from Coordination Compounds before attempting MCQs.

Exam-style MCQs

Use chapter-focused multiple-choice practice to improve accuracy, recall and application for CBSE Class 12 Chemistry.

Performance Practice

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Top 20 Coordination Compounds MCQs with Answers

These public questions are selected from the exact Coordination Compounds chapter, screened for topic relevance and deduplicated so repeated versions of the same MCQ are not shown publicly. Use them for quick revision, then sign in to attempt the complete test experience with more questions, results and performance review.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

1. The coordination number of Co in

  • A. 3
  • B. 4
  • C. 6
  • D. 8
Answer: C
Explanation: Six monodentate ammonia ligands are directly bonded to cobalt.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

2. The coordination number of Fe in

  • A. 2
  • B. 4
  • C. 6
  • D. 8
Answer: C
Explanation: Six cyanide ligands are coordinated to Fe.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

3. The oxidation state of Fe in K₄

  • A. +2
  • B. +3
  • C. +4
  • D. 0
Answer: A
Explanation: The complex ion is −4. Six CN⁻ contribute −6, so Fe is +2.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

4. The IUPAC name of

  • A. Tetraamminecopper(II) sulfate
  • B. Tetraamminecopper(I) sulfate
  • C. Copper tetraammine sulfate
  • D. Ammine copper sulfate
Answer: A
Explanation: Cu is in +2 oxidation state and four NH₃ ligands are named tetraammine.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

5. Linkage isomerism arises because of:

  • A. Polydentate ligands
  • B. Ambidentate ligands
  • C. Counter ions only
  • D. Different oxidation states
Answer: B
Explanation: Ambidentate ligands can coordinate through different donor atoms.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

6. According to Werner's theory, primary valency corresponds to:

  • A. Coordination number
  • B. Oxidation state
  • C. Number of ligands
  • D. Magnetic moment
Answer: B
Explanation: Primary valency is ionisable and corresponds to oxidation state.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

7. According to Werner's theory, secondary valency corresponds to:

  • A. Oxidation state
  • B. Coordination number
  • C. Atomic number
  • D. Spin state only
Answer: B
Explanation: Secondary valency is non-ionisable and corresponds to coordination number.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

8. A strong-field ligand generally:

  • A. Produces small splitting and many unpaired electrons
  • B. Produces large splitting and promotes pairing
  • C. Has no effect on d orbitals
  • D. Always forms tetrahedral complexes
Answer: B
Explanation: Strong-field ligands create large Δo, often causing electron pairing.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

9. Which ligand is stronger field?

  • A. I⁻
  • B. Br⁻
  • C. H₂O
  • D. CN⁻
Answer: D
Explanation: CN⁻ lies near the strong-field end of the spectrochemical series.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

10. A coordination entity consists of:

  • A. Only the central metal ion
  • B. Central metal atom/ion bonded to ligands
  • C. Only counter ions
  • D. Only neutral molecules
Answer: B
Explanation: A coordination entity includes the central metal atom or ion and the ligands directly attached to it.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

11. A ligand is a species that:

  • A. Accepts an electron pair from the metal
  • B. Donates an electron pair to the metal
  • C. Transfers protons only
  • D. Has no lone pair
Answer: B
Explanation: Ligands are Lewis bases that donate electron pairs to the central metal ion.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

12. Which ligand is bidentate?

  • A. NH₃
  • B. H₂O
  • C. Ethylenediamine
  • D. Cl⁻
Answer: C
Explanation: Ethylenediamine coordinates through two nitrogen donor atoms.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

13. Which is an ambidentate ligand?

  • A. NH₃
  • B. H₂O
  • C. NO₂⁻
  • D. en
Answer: C
Explanation: Nitrite can coordinate through nitrogen or oxygen.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

14. The oxidation state of Co in

  • A. +1
  • B. +2
  • C. +3
  • D. +4
Answer: C
Explanation: The complex cation has charge +2. NH₃ is neutral and coordinated Cl is −1, so Co is +3.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

15. Which pair can show ionisation isomerism?

  • A. [Co(NH₃)₅Br]SO₄ and [Co(NH₃)₅SO₄]Br
  • B. [Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂] cis and trans
  • C. [Co(en)₃]³⁺ enantiomers
  • D. [Ni(CO)₄] only
Answer: A
Explanation: Exchange of a coordinated ion and a counter ion produces ionisation isomerism.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

16. Which complex can show geometrical isomerism?

  • A. [Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂]
  • B. [Ni(CO)₄]
  • C. [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺
  • D. [Zn(NH₃)₄]²⁺
Answer: A
Explanation: Square-planar [Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂] has cis and trans forms.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

17. Which complex can show optical isomerism?

  • A. [Co(en)₃]³⁺
  • B. [PtCl₄]²⁻
  • C. [Ni(CO)₄]
  • D. [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺
Answer: A
Explanation: [Co(en)₃]³⁺ exists as non-superimposable mirror images.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

18. The crystal-field splitting in an octahedral complex produces:

  • A. Two eg and three t2g orbitals
  • B. Three eg and two t2g orbitals
  • C. Five equivalent orbitals
  • D. One low and four high orbitals
Answer: A
Explanation: In an octahedral field, d orbitals split into lower t2g and higher eg sets.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

19. In an octahedral field, the lower-energy set is:

  • A. eg
  • B. t2g
  • C. sp³
  • D. dsp²
Answer: B
Explanation: The dxy, dyz and dzx orbitals form the lower-energy t2g set.

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry · Coordination Compounds · Very Very Hard

20. The colour of many coordination compounds is mainly due to:

  • A. Nuclear transitions
  • B. d–d transitions and charge-transfer transitions
  • C. Proton transfer
  • D. Only ligand vibration
Answer: B
Explanation: Absorption of visible light can promote d-electrons between split levels or involve charge transfer.

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Coordination Compounds Practice Tests

Coordination Compounds Frequently Asked Questions

What should I identify first in a coordination complex?

Find the overall charge, ligand charges, oxidation state of the metal and coordination number. These determine many later steps.

How should I learn coordination nomenclature?

Apply the naming order consistently: ligands first, metal second, oxidation state in Roman numerals, and special metal endings for anionic complexes.

Why are unpaired electrons important?

The number of unpaired electrons determines magnetic behaviour and is closely related to crystal-field splitting and high-spin or low-spin configurations.

Continue with another chapter to build connected concepts and strengthen your overall Chemistry preparation.

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