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Coordination Compounds question

2010 · Shift 0 · Q16
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Coordination Compounds question

2010 · Shift 0 · Q16

JEE MainChemistryCoordination CompoundsMCQ+4 / −1
Which one of the following has an optical isomer ? (en = ethylenediamine)
  1. A
    [Zn(en)(NH3)2]2+[Zn (en) (NH_3)_2]^{2+}[Zn(en)(NH3​)2​]2+
  2. B
    [Co(en)3]3+[Co (en)_3]^{3+}[Co(en)3​]3+
  3. C
    [Co(H2O)4en]3+[Co (H_2O)_4 en]^{3+}[Co(H2​O)4​en]3+
  4. D
    [Zn(en)2]2+[Zn (en)_2]^{2+}[Zn(en)2​]2+
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: B

  1. Check the geometry and possibility of chirality for each complex

Optical isomerism in coordination compounds arises when the complex is non-superimposable on its mirror image and has no plane/center of symmetry.

A useful rule:

  • Octahedral complexes of type [M(AA)3][M(AA)_3][M(AA)3​] where AAAAAA is a bidentate ligand often show optical isomerism.
  • Tetrahedral complexes generally do not show optical isomerism unless all four groups are different.

  1. Option A: [Zn(en)(NH3)2]2+[Zn(en)(NH_3)_2]^{2+}[Zn(en)(NH3​)2​]2+
  • enenen is bidentate, occupying 2 coordination sites.
  • Two NH3NH_3NH3​ ligands occupy 2 more sites.
  • Total coordination number =4=4=4.
  • Zn2+Zn^{2+}Zn2+ with coordination number 4 is generally tetrahedral.

Thus this is a tetrahedral complex with ligand set effectively of type M(AA)B2M(AA)B_2M(AA)B2​. Such a structure has symmetry and is not optically active.

So, A does not show optical isomerism.


  1. Option B: [Co(en)3]3+[Co(en)_3]^{3+}[Co(en)3​]3+
  • Each enenen is bidentate.
  • Three enenen ligands occupy all 6 coordination sites.
  • So the complex is octahedral of type [M(AA)3][M(AA)_3][M(AA)3​].

This is the classic case of optical isomerism, giving:

  • Δ\DeltaΔ form
  • Λ\LambdaΛ form

These are non-superimposable mirror images.

So, B shows optical isomerism.


  1. Option C: [Co(H2O)4en]3+[Co(H_2O)_4en]^{3+}[Co(H2​O)4​en]3+
  • One enenen gives 2 sites, four H2OH_2OH2​O give 4 sites.
  • Total coordination number =6=6=6, so octahedral.
  • Type: [M(AA)B4][M(AA)B_4][M(AA)B4​].

In an octahedral complex with one symmetrical bidentate ligand and four identical monodentate ligands, the complex has symmetry elements and does not become chiral.

So, C does not show optical isomerism.


  1. Option D: [Zn(en)2]2+[Zn(en)_2]^{2+}[Zn(en)2​]2+
  • Two enenen ligands provide 4 donor atoms.
  • Coordination number =4=4=4.
  • For Zn2+Zn^{2+}Zn2+, this is generally tetrahedral.

A tetrahedral complex with two identical bidentate ligands does not produce a stable pair of optical isomers here.

So, D does not show optical isomerism.


  1. Final conclusion

Only the octahedral tris-chelate complex [Co(en)3]3+[Co(en)_3]^{3+}[Co(en)3​]3+ is optically active.

Therefore, the correct option is:

B\boxed{B}B​

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