What type of isomerism is shown by the complex [Co(en)3]Cl3?
Practice Questions
Q1
What type of isomerism is shown by the complex [Co(en)3]Cl3?
Geometrical
Optical
Structural
Coordination
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What type of isomerism is shown by the complex [Co(en)3]Cl3?
Step 1: Identify the complex. The complex is [Co(en)3]Cl3, which contains cobalt (Co) and ethylenediamine (en).
Step 2: Understand what ethylenediamine (en) is. Ethylenediamine is a bidentate ligand, meaning it can attach to the metal at two points.
Step 3: Determine the coordination number. In this complex, cobalt is coordinated to three ethylenediamine ligands, making a total of six coordination sites.
Step 4: Check for chiral centers. A chiral center is a point in a molecule where the arrangement of atoms can create non-superimposable mirror images.
Step 5: Analyze the structure. The arrangement of the three bidentate ligands around the cobalt creates a structure that can have two different mirror image forms.
Step 6: Conclude the type of isomerism. Since the complex can exist in two non-superimposable forms, it shows optical isomerism.
