Anne D.
asked 10/24/12What is the formula for this compound?
Formula for Platinum (II) Acetate?
What does the sructure look like?
Thanks everyone!!!
4 Answers By Expert Tutors

Stephanie B. answered 10/24/12
Math, Science and Language Tutor
Acetate = CH3COO-
Platinum = Pt+2
Pt(CH3COO)2
Acetate has a a minus -1 charge, and platinum has a +2. I need 2 acetate atoms to balance out the charge on the platinum.
Does that make sense?
Hope this helps.
STEPHEN W. answered 02/14/25
Empowering Students to Unlock Their Full Potential with Patient
Explanation:
- Platinum (II) indicates that platinum is in the +2 oxidation state.
- Acetate is the conjugate base of acetic acid, with the formula CH₃COO⁻.
- Since platinum is in the +2 oxidation state, it binds to two acetate ions to form a neutral compound.
Structure:
The structure of Platinum (II) Acetate consists of a central platinum ion (Pt²⁺) coordinated to two acetate ions (CH₃COO⁻). The acetate ions typically bind to the platinum ion through their oxygen atoms, forming a coordination complex.
The structure can be visualized as:
In this structure:
- The platinum ion (Pt²⁺) is at the centre.
- Each acetate ion (CH₃COO⁻) donates one oxygen atom to coordinate with the platinum ion.
- The other oxygen atom in each acetate ion remains uncoordinated.
Mario M. answered 02/11/13
Moe Bio Chem &Astronomy
Well if you know that acetate is a polyatomic ion with a -1 charge, this should be at the end of the of the chemical formula X C2H3O2 -1, where X is the positive charged ion. The positive charged ion is, in this case platinum, here that ion looks like Pt +2, we can see that it is plus two (2), because of the stock number platinum (II) acetate. Thus when you put these two ions together, you have the metal ion, Pt+2 and the non-metal ion C2H3O2 -1 combine to form Pt(C2H3O2)2, we put the acetate ion in parenthesis because it is, as mentioned, a polyatomic ion, so we Need to put that ion in parenthesis.

Robert C. answered 10/24/12
Dr. Robert can help you with Math and Science
Stephanie is correct. I only wish to add to her answers. The +2 charge on platinum is indicated by the oxidation number in "Platinum (II) Acetate." The roman numeral II (2) indicates the oxidation state of the platinum. There are other oxidation states possible, such as +4 and -2.
The structure of an acetate is hard to draw here. You can think of it like this: CH3-COO-, where one carbon has bonds to 3 hydrogens and to the other carbon. The second carbon is bonded to two oxygens. Usually this is represented as one double bond to an oxygen and one single bond to the other oxygen with a negative charge on the single bonded oxygen. The negative charge is actually stabilized by resonance of the bonds so it is also appropriate to represent each oxygen as having a 1.5 fold bond to the carbon, with the negative charge delocalized between them. In any case, it is the oxygen containing end of the 2 carbon acetate chains which point toward the platinum ion. These can be thought of as ionic attractions but since platinum is a transition metal, it is better to call them coordination bonds since it will most likely be d orbitals from the platinum that are bonding.
VSEPR theory predicts that the 4 lone pairs and the 2 coordination bonds of the platinum (II) acetate complex would have octahedral geometry, with the two acetates occupying opposite poles, giving the overall complex a linear shape:
Ac- ···········+Pt+··········· -Ac

Dick B.
VSEPR is actually not a good model to use for transition metals. Ligand field theory is a much better predictor. While a tetrahedral structure is certainly possible, a square planar structure seems more likely, assuming a monomeric structure (which is a big assumption).
02/11/13
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Arpita V.
First you need to learn how to write a formula for any chemical compound. A chemical compound will always have positive ion first and then negative ion. In the example of platinum(II) acetate, platinum is a positive ion and hence we will write Pt [(CH3COO)2]. Because acetate ion is monovalent ion and the oxidation state of platinum here is two then the formula will have two acetate ion with one platinum ion. Note that large and small brackets are very important to place as small brackets are required to show that acetate is a polyatomic ion and large bracket to show the co -ordination sphere in the compound.03/05/24