Question

Tris (ethylenediamine) cobalt (III) cation, $[Co(en{)}_3{]}^{3+}$ can have

• A. three stereoisomers, all chiral and optically active
• B. two stereoisomers, both achiral
• C. three stereoisomers, all achiral
• D. two chiral stereoisomers (enantiomers) and one achiral

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Optical isomers have mirror images that cannot be superimposed on one another. These are called as enantiomers. The molecules or ions that cannot be superimposed are called chiral.