Chemistry - Coordination Chemistry Question with Solution | TestHub

The complex is a binuclear cobalt(III) species bridged by two hydroxide groups: $[(en{)}_{2}Co(\mu -OH{)}_{2}Co(N{H}_3{)}_{2}C{l}_2{]}^{2+}$. For a geometrical isomer to be optically inactive, it must possess a plane or center of symmetry. The left cobalt center, $[Co(en{)}_2(OH{)}_2]$, is inherently chiral (cis-form) or possesses a geometry that, when coupled with the asymmetric right center $[Co(N{H}_3{)}_{2}C{l}_2(OH{)}_2]$, prevents the overall molecule from having a plane of symmetry in any standard geometrical arrangement. Since all possible spatial arrangements of these ligands around the bridged core result in chiral (asymmetric) structures, there are 0 optically inactive geometrical isomers.