Which one of the following has an optical isomer:a)[Co(H2O)4(en)]3+b)[...
Optical Isomerism in Coordination Compounds
In coordination compounds, optical isomerism arises due to the presence of a chiral center in the coordination sphere. A chiral center is a carbon atom that is attached to four different groups. In coordination compounds, the chiral center can be a metal ion, a ligand, or a combination of both.
Answer and Explanation:
The correct answer is option 'D' [Co(en)3]3.
- In this complex, there are three bidentate ethylenediamine (en) ligands attached to the central cobalt ion.
- Each ethylenediamine ligand has two nitrogen atoms that can act as donor atoms to form coordination bonds with the cobalt ion.
- Since the two nitrogen atoms in the ethylenediamine ligand are different, the complex has a chiral center.
- The cobalt ion is surrounded by three chiral ligands, which gives rise to optical isomerism.
- The complex exists in two enantiomeric forms that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other.
- These two enantiomers rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions and are therefore optically active.
Hence, the correct option is D.
Which one of the following has an optical isomer:a)[Co(H2O)4(en)]3+b)[...
Tris (didentate) complexes, such as [Co(en)3]^3+, [Ru(bpy)3]^2+, [Co(Hibg)3]^3+ have no centre of inversion nor a mirror plane passing through the central metal atom. Hence they are chiral and have been resolved into optical isomers (d & l).