Question

In $Fe(CO{)}_5,$ the $Fe-C$ bond possesses

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• A. $\sigma$ - character only
• B. $\pi$ - character
• C. ionic characters
• D. Both $\sigma$ and $\pi$ characters

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both $\sigma$ and $\pi$ characters

In metal carbonyls, ligand (CO) donates it's lone pair of electrons to the vacant orbitals of the iron atom and forms the sigma-bond. Since the iron atom also possesses some electrons in it's d-orbitals, it back donates those electrons to the molecular orbitals of the ligand forming a π-bond.
Thus, Fe-C bond has both $\sigma$ and $\pi$ characteristics.

Hence, option (d) is correct.