The octahedral cation $[Co (NH X_{3}) X_{4} (NO X_{2}) X_{2}] X^{+}$ contains two $NO X_{2} X^{-}$ ligands, each of which may be bound through N (nitro) or O (nitrito). Treating a cis or trans arrangement with different linkages as one species per arrangement, the total number of distinct isomers (geometrical plus linkage) is

Answer: A

The cation is

Ma X_{4} b X_{2}

with 2 geometrical forms, cis and trans. For each, the two

NO X_{2} X^{-}

can be both nitro, both nitrito, or one of each (the mixed case is a single species because the two positions are equivalent by symmetry): 3 options. Total

= 2 \times 3 = 6

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Answer: A

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