Question

Specify whether the following complexes have isomers:

a. [Pt(NH₃)₄]Cl₂
b. [Co(en)₃]³⁺
c. [Cr(CO)₆]
d. [Cu(NH₃)₄]²⁺

Answer 1

Only the complex [Co(en)3]3+ has isomers, which are optical isomers due to the chiral nature of the ethylenediamine ligand. The other complexes do not exhibit isomerism due to their symmetrical structures (b).

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks whether the following complexes have isomers:

• [Pt(NH₃)₄]Cl₂
• [Co(en)₃]³⁺
• [Cr(CO)₆]
• [Cu(NH₃)₄]²⁺

The complexes [Pt(NH₃)₄]Cl₂ and [Cr(CO)₆] do not have isomers due to their symmetrical structures. The complex [Cu(NH₃)₄]²⁺ also does not have isomers. However, the complex [Co(en)₃]³⁺ exhibits optical isomerism because the en ligands (ethylenediamine) can create a non-superimposable mirror image due to the arrangement of atoms in space, leading to chiral molecules.