Potassium trichloroammineplatinate is an important inorganic coordination compound with the chemical formula K[Pt(NH₃)Cl₃]. It holds a milestone position in the history of coordination chemistry and serves as a key precursor in modern chemical research.
Basic Information
Chemical name: Potassium trichloroammineplatinate
CAS number: 13820-91-2
Molecular formula: Cl₃H₃KNPt or K[Pt(NH₃)Cl₃]
Molecular weight: approx. 357.57 g/mol
Appearance: yellow to orange crystalline powder
Melting point: 255 °C (decomposes)
Structure and Properties
Central atom: platinum(II) ion (Pt²⁺)
Coordination geometry: square planar (typical for Pt(II) complexes)
Ligands: three chloride ions (Cl⁻) and one ammonia molecule (NH₃) coordinated to the platinum centre
Ionic composition: the complex anion [Pt(NH₃)Cl₃]⁻ and the potassium cation (K⁺)
Main Uses
Cornerstone of coordination chemistry (historical and educational): one of the key compounds used by Nobel laureate Alfred Werner in the…