[Co(H2O)6]3+ is a strong oxidizing agent that will oxidize water, but [Co(NH3)6]3+ is st...

[Co(H₂O)₆]³⁺ is a strong oxidizing agent that will oxidize water, but [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ is stable in aqueous solution. Rationalize this observation by comparing the difference in LFSE for each pair of oxidized and reduced complexes (that is, the differences in LFSE between [Co(H₂O)₆]³⁺ and [Co(H₂O)₆]²⁺, and between [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ and [Co(NH₃)₆]²⁺ ) . Table 10.6 gives data on the aqueous complexes; Δ_o for [Co(NH₃)₆]²⁺ is 10,200 cm^-1 , and Δ_o for [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺ is about 24,000 cm^-1. The Co(III)complexes are low-spin complexes and the Co(II) complexesare high spin.