128k views
3 votes
A 0.25 molal aqueous solution of CoCl3.(NH3)4 freezes at -0.93°C. How many stereoisomers does this coordination compound have?

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

The coordination compound [Co(NH3)4Cl2]Cl has two stereoisomers: a cis-isomer and a trans-isomer, due to its octahedral geometry with two types of ligands around the cobalt atom.

Step-by-step explanation:

The coordination compound in question is CoCl3.(NH3)4, often written as [Co(NH3)4Cl2]Cl. Given that cobalt is in the center of this complex with ammonia and chloride as ligands, the geometry for this complex is typically octahedral. However, since the question asks about stereoisomers, it specifies interest in the spatial arrangement of the different ligands around the cobalt atom.

For an octahedral complex with the formula [Co(NH3)4Cl2], where you have two types of ligands, namely four ammines and two chlorides, there are two possible stereoisomers: a cis-isomer, where the two chlorides are adjacent to each other, and a trans-isomer, where the two chlorides are opposite each other. Thus, this coordination compound has two stereoisomers.

User Toochka
by
7.7k points