The compound is a molecular coordination complex. The three bidentate nitrate ligands give a distorted octahedral arrangement.[3] The nitrate ligands are planar. With D3symmetry, the molecule is chiral. The Co-O bond lengths are about 190 pm long. The O-Co-O angles for the chelating oxygen atoms in the same nitrate anion is about 68 degrees.[4] The same geometry seems to persist in carbon tetrachloride solution.[3]
Cobalt(III) nitrate oxidizes water, the initial green solution rapidly turns pink, with formation of cobalt(II) ions and release of oxygen.[1] Cobalt(III) nitrate can be intercalated in graphite, in the ratio of 1 molecule for each 12 carbon atoms.[2]
^ abW. Levason and C. A. McAuliffe (1974): "Higher oxidation state chemistry of iron, cobalt, and nickel". Coordination Chemistry Reviews, volume 12, issue 2, pages 151-184. doi:10.1016/S0010-8545(00)82026-3
^ abcE. Stumpp, G. Nietfeld, K. Steinwede, and K. D. Wageringel (1983) "Reaction of anhydrous metal nitrates with graphite". Synthetic Metals, Evolume 7, issues 1–2, pages 143-151. doi:10.1016/0379-6779(83)90097-8
^ abcR. J. Fereday, N. Logan and D. Sutton (1969): "Anhydrous cobalt(III) nitrate: preparation, spectra, and reactions with some organic ligands". Journal of the Chemical Society A: Inorganic, Physical, Theoretical, volume 1969, issue 0, pages 2699-2703. doi:10.1039/J19690002699
^ abJ. Hilton and S. C. Wallwork (1968): "The crystal structure of cobalt(III) nitrate", Chemical Communications, volume 1968, issue 15, pages 871-871. doi:10.1039/C19680000871
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