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Draw all linkage isomers of Co(NH₃)₃(H₂O)₂(CN)₃.

User JLearner
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Final answer:

Linkage isomers of Co(NH₃)₃(H₂O)₂(CN)₃ involve the CN ligands binding through either the carbon or nitrogen atoms. With three CN ligands, there are 23 = 8 different isomers, but only the count of each type of linkage is relevant.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student has asked to draw all linkage isomers of the coordination compound Co(NH₃)₃(H₂O)₂(CN)₃. In linkage isomers, ligands can coordinate to the central metal atom in different ways. The cyano ligand (CN) can bind either through the carbon (forming a cyano linkage) or nitrogen atom (forming an isocyano linkage). Since there are three CN ligands in the compound, and each can bind in one of two ways, there are a total of 23 = 8 different linkage isomers for this compound. However, since there is no chemical difference between the cyano ligands, only the number of cyano versus isocyano linkages needs to be considered.

User Mathomatic
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