This question is about inorganic Chemistry regarding CO
stretching and Group Theory.
Cobalt tetracarbonyl hydride, HCo(CO)_4,...
Cobalt tetracarbonyl hydride, HCo(CO)_4, is an important industrial catalyst for the production of aldehydes from alkenes, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen gas via a process called hydroformylation. The compound is a low boiling liquid, which makes structural characterization difficult. Two possible structures are shown below. Predict the number of CO stretching frequencies expected in the IR and Raman spectrum for both structures. Which structure is the correct structure based on the experimental observation of two CO signals in the IR spectrum of HCo(CO)_4?