Ionic compounds consist of positive and negative ions held together by strong electrostatic forces known as ionic bonds. In the case of the given complex \(\left[\mathrm{Pt}\left(\mathrm{NH}_3\right)_5 \mathrm{Br}\right] \mathrm{Br}_3\), ion-dissociation in an aqueous solution involves breaking the ionic bonds between the complex cation and the anionic bromides.
During dissolution, the complex ion \(\left[\mathrm{Pt}\left(\mathrm{NH}_3\right)_5 \mathrm{Br}\right]^{2+}\) remains together, forming a single entity, while the three bromide ions (\(\mathrm{Br}^-\)) separate completely. Ion-dissociation in this context highlights the discrete nature of ionic compounds in solutions, which is an important aspect of their behavior that students must understand.
Key Takeaways from Ion-Dissociation
- Analyzing the initial ionic composition is essential to predicting the possible ions in solution.
- dissociation leads to a number of ions that reflects the original stoichiometry of the compound.