Chapter 3, Problem 68P

Mixing ${\text{SbCl}}_{\text{3}}$ and ${\text{GaCl}}_{\text{3}}$ in a $\text{1}:\text{1}$ molar ratio (using liquid sulfur dioxide as a solvent) gives a solid ionic compound of empirical formula ${\text{GaSbCl}}_{\text{6}}$ . A controversy arises over whether this compound is $\left({\text{SbCl}}_{\text{2}}^{+}\right)\left({\text{GaCl}}_{\text{4}}^{-}\right)$ or $\left({\text{GaCl}}_{\text{2}}^{+}\right)\left({\text{SbCl}}_{\text{4}}^{-}\right)$ .

(a) Predict the molecular structures of the two anions.

(b) It is learned that the cation in the compound has a bent structure. Based on this fact, which formulation is more likely to be correct?