Generally speaking, for a given metal and ligand, the stability of a
coordination compound is greater for the metal in the \(3+\) rather than in the
\(2+\) oxidation state. Furthermore, for a given ligand the complexes of the
bivalent metal ions of the first transition series tend to increase in
stability in the order
\(\mathrm{Mn}(\mathrm{II})<\mathrm{Fe}(\mathrm{II})<\mathrm{Co}(\mathrm{II})<\)
\(\mathrm{Ni}(\mathrm{II})<\mathrm{Cu}(\mathrm{II})\). Explain how these two
observations are consistent with one another and also consistent with a
crystal-field picture of coordination compounds.