However, Co
3+
is
unstable in an aqueous environment, being
readily
reduced back to Co
2+
. To prevent this from
happening
,
the
resulting
Co
3+
can be st
abilized by adding an E
thylenediamine ligand. Hence, if
the oxidation is
carried out in the presence of E
thylenediamine, the Co
3+
formed is stabilized and
retains the higher oxidation state