MediumChemistryHigh School (11–12)Coordination Compounds › Isomerism in Coordination CompoundsConceptualA-LevelIBJEE Main
The complex [Co(NH₃)₃(NO₂)₃] has a fac isomer and a mer isomer…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
The complex has a fac isomer and a mer isomer. Count the pairs of ammonia ligands that sit trans to each other in each isomer. Explain your answer in a sentence.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Cis ligands are apart and trans ligands apart. Tetrahedral complexes have no geometrical isomers. Octahedral has fac and mer forms. To count the isomers of a monodentate octahedral complex, write the ligands as three trans pairs and count the different sets. The net dipole of two bonds with dipole at an angle is .
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. Three NH3 and three NO2 ligands on an octahedron.
Step 1. The fac isomer. The three NH3 ligands sit at the corners of one triangular face. Every two of them are apart. No pair is trans. The trans pairs are NH3 with NO2 three times.
Step 2. The mer isomer. The three NH3 ligands lie in one plane through cobalt. Two of them are at opposite ends of a line through cobalt, so they are trans. The third is cis to both. The trans pairs are NH3 with NH3, NO2 with NO2, and NH3 with NO2.
Answer: trans pairs of ammonia in fac and in mer.
Discussion (0)
Log in to join the discussion.
Loading…