trans-Dichlorotetrakis(pyridine)platinum(IV) nitrate: a classical co-ordination compound

Claims that trans-dichlorotetrakis(pyridine)platinum(IV) nitrate forms a covalent hydrate when dissolved in water are shown to be in error; the observed acidity of the aqueous solution is due to the presence of a small amount of a strongly acidic impurity, and all of the observed physical and spectroscopic properties of the salt are simply interpreted in terms of classical co-ordination chemistry.