Which one of the following types of isomerisms is shown by [CoCl₂(en)₂]Cl ?
Optical isomerism only
Geometrical isomerism only
Both ionisation and geometrical isomerisms
Both geometrical and optical isomerisms
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UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
The complex [CoCl₂(en)₂]⁺ is of the type [Ma₂b₂] (where ‘a’ is Cl and ‘b’ is the bidentate ligand ‘en’ represented by two coordination points). Such octahedral complexes can exist as cis and trans geometrical isomers. The trans isomer (where the two Cl ligands are opposite to each other) has a plane of symmetry and is optically inactive. The cis isomer (where the two Cl ligands are adjacent) lacks a plane of symmetry and is chiral, existing as a pair of enantiomers (non-superimposable mirror images), which are optically active.