Which one of the following has an optical isomer?

Question

Which one of the following has an optical isomer? (A) [Zn(en)2]2+ (B) [Zn(en)(NH3)2]2+ (C) [Co(en)3]3+ (D) [Co(H2O)4(en)]3+

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

Optical isomers rarely occur in square planar complexes due to the presence of axis of symmetry.
Optical isomerism is common in octahedral complexes of the general formula,

[M a_{2} b_{2} c_{2}]^{n \pm}, [M ab c d e f], [M (AA)_{3}]^{n \pm}, [M (AA)_{2} a_{2}]^{n \pm}, [M (AA)_{2} ab]^{n \pm}

and

[M (A B)_{3}]^{n \pm} .

Thus, among the given options, only

[C o (e n)_{3}]^{3 +}

shows optical isomerism.

Q. Which one of the following has an optical isomer?

$[Z n (e n)_{2}]^{2 +}$

$[Z n (e n) (N H_{3})_{2}]^{2 +}$

$[C o (e n)_{3}]^{3 +}$

$[C o (H_{2} O)_{4} (e n)]^{3 +}$

Q. Which one of the following has an optical isomer?

[Zn(en)2​]2+

[Zn(en)(NH3​)2​]2+

[Co(en)3​]3+

[Co(H2​O)4​(en)]3+

$[Z n (e n)_{2}]^{2 +}$

$[Z n (e n) (N H_{3})_{2}]^{2 +}$

$[C o (e n)_{3}]^{3 +}$

$[C o (H_{2} O)_{4} (e n)]^{3 +}$