What is the Difference Between Double Salt and Coordination Compound?

Double salts and coordination compounds are two distinct entities in chemistry with unique characteristics and properties. Here are the key differences between them:

1. Formation: Double salts are compounds formed by the combination of two or more distinct salts, typically through crystallization from a solution. Coordination compounds, on the other hand, are complex structures formed by the coordination of a central metal ion or atom with surrounding ligands.
2. Dissociation: Double salts dissociate completely in their individual ions in aqueous media, while coordination complexes do not dissociate entirely into simple ions.
3. Identity: Double salts retain their separate identities and can be easily separated into their constituent salts by appropriate methods, such as selective precipitation or evaporation of the solvent. Coordination complexes, however, do not lose their identity when dissolved in water.
4. Solubility: The solubility of double salts can differ from their constituent salts, and they may exhibit different solubility properties, especially when compared to simple mixtures of individual salts.
5. Test for constituent ions: Double salts give tests for all their constituent ions, while coordination complexes do not give tests for all their constituent ions.

Examples of double salts include Mohr's salt (FeSO4(NH4)2SO4.6H2O), while examples of coordination compounds include K4[Fe(CN)6].

Comparative Table: Double Salt vs Coordination Compound

Here is a table comparing the differences between double salts and coordination compounds:

Double salts are compounds formed by the combination of two or more distinct salts, and they dissociate completely into their individual ions in water. On the other hand, coordination compounds are complex entities formed by the coordination of a central metal ion with ligands, and they do not completely dissociate into their ions in water.