For the complex ion [Co(NCO)₂(PH₃)₄]⁺, how many different isomers of the complex can exist? A) 8 B) 6 C) 4 D) 3 E) 2

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since there are three different ligands (NCO, S, and P) that can bind to the central cobalt ion in different orientations, and each can have different stereoisomers, the total number of possible isomers is 2x2x3 = 12. However, some of these isomers can be related by symmetry operations such as rotation or reflection, which reduces the total number of distinct isomers. By examining the symmetry of the ligand arrangement, it can be shown that there are six distinct isomers: three geometrical isomers (cis, trans, and facial) and two enantiomeric pairs for each geometrical isomer. Therefore, the answer is B) 6.

For the Complex Ion [Co(NCO)2(PH3)4]+, How Many Different Isomers of the Complex

For the Complex Ion [Co(NCO)₂(PH₃)₄]⁺, How Many Different Isomers of the Complex