ChemistryCode 9701
Stereoisomerism in transition element complexes
What this topic asks you to be able to do
- describe the kinds of stereoisomerism that complexes can show, including those that arise with bidentate ligands: (a) cis/trans (geometrical) isomerism, e.g. square planar complexes such as [Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂], and octahedral complexes like [Co(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+ and [Ni(H2NCH2CH2NH2)2(H2O)2]2+ (b) optical isomerism, shown for instance by [Ni(H2NCH2CH2NH2)3]2+ and [Ni(H2NCH2CH2NH2)2(H2O)2]2+
- deduce whether complexes such as those in 28.4.1(a) and 28.4.1(b) are polar overall