Chemistry / Unit 12 Chem 2394 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Geometric Isomerism in Complexes
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The idea
Geometric isomers share the same ligands on the same metal but differ in arrangement: cis has like ligands adjacent, trans has them opposite.
In practice
cis-[Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ has its two chlorides adjacent, while its trans isomer has them across the octahedron.
Where people slip
Geometric isomers are different compounds with different properties, like color and polarity, not one compound drawn two ways.
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