- A
- B
- C
- D
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Correct answer: B
- 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 where is a bidentate ligand often show optical isomerism.
- Tetrahedral complexes generally do not show optical isomerism unless all four groups are different.
- Option A:
- is bidentate, occupying 2 coordination sites.
- Two ligands occupy 2 more sites.
- Total coordination number .
- with coordination number 4 is generally tetrahedral.
Thus this is a tetrahedral complex with ligand set effectively of type . Such a structure has symmetry and is not optically active.
So, A does not show optical isomerism.
- Option B:
- Each is bidentate.
- Three ligands occupy all 6 coordination sites.
- So the complex is octahedral of type .
This is the classic case of optical isomerism, giving:
- form
- form
These are non-superimposable mirror images.
So, B shows optical isomerism.
- Option C:
- One gives 2 sites, four give 4 sites.
- Total coordination number , so octahedral.
- Type: .
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.
- Option D:
- Two ligands provide 4 donor atoms.
- Coordination number .
- For , 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.
- Final conclusion
Only the octahedral tris-chelate complex is optically active.
Therefore, the correct option is:
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