Given below are two statements:

Statement I: and can act as ligands to form transition metal complexes.

Statement II: As N and P are from the same group, the nature of bonding of and is always t

Question

Given below are two statements:

Statement I:  and  can act as ligands to form transition metal complexes.

Statement II: As N and P are from the same group, the nature of bonding of  and  is always the same with transition metals.

Choose the most appropriate answer:

Canvas Classes · Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Evaluate Statement I:
Both  (trimethylamine) and  (trimethylphosphine) have lone pairs on N and P respectively → both can act as σ-donor ligands to form transition metal complexes. Statement I is correct ✓

Step 2 — Evaluate Statement II:
Although N and P are in the same group, their bonding with transition metals differs:
- : N has no available d orbitals → acts only as σ-donor
- : P has empty 3d orbitals → can act as both σ-donor AND π-acceptor (back bonding from metal d to P d orbita

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