An octahedral cobalt(III) complex has composition CoCl3.4NH3. Its solution conducts like a 1:1 electrolyte, and excess AgNO3 precipitates exactly one mole of AgCl per mole of complex at once. The total number of stereoisomers (geometrical and optical) of its complex ion is

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An octahedral cobalt(III) complex has composition $CoCl X_{3} \cdot 4 NH X_{3}$ . Its solution conducts like a 1:1 electrolyte, and excess $AgNO X_{3}$ precipitates exactly one mole of $AgCl$ per mole of complex at once. The total number of stereoisomers (geometrical and optical) of its complex ion is

Answer: B

One free chloride means two chlorides are bound, so the cation is

[Co (NH X_{3}) X_{4} Cl X_{2}] X^{+}

, an

M A_{4} B_{2}

octahedral ion. It exists as cis and trans forms, and an enumeration of the arrangements gives only these two; the cis form has a mirror plane and is achiral. Total stereoisomers

= 2

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An octahedral cobalt(III) complex has composition CoClX3​⋅4NHX3​. Its solution conducts like a 1:1 electrolyte, and excess AgNOX3​ precipitates exactly one mole of AgCl per mole of complex at once. The total number of stereoisomers (geometrical and optical) of its complex ion is

Answer: B

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