Example 5.3

Notice how the name of the metal differs in cation and anion even though they contain the same metal ions. Isomers are two or more compounds that have the same chemical formula but a different arrangement of atoms. Because of the different arrangement of atoms, they differ in one or more physical or chemical properties. Two principal types of isomerism are known among coordination compounds.

Each of which can be further subdivided. (a) Stereoisomerism (i) Geometrical isomerism (ii) Optical isomerism (b) Structural isomerism (i) Linkage isomerism (ii) Coordination isomerism (iii) Ionisation isomerism (iv) Solvate isomerism Stereoisomers have the same chemical formula and chemical bonds but they have different spatial arrangement. Structural isomers have different bonds. A detailed account of these isomers are given below.

This type of isomerism arises in heteroleptic complexes due to different possible geometric arrangements of the ligands. Important examples of this behaviour are found with coordination numbers and . In a square planar complex of formula [MX L ] (X and L are unidentate), the two ligands X may be arranged adjacent to each other in a cis isomer, or opposite to each other in a trans isomer as depicted in Fig. .

. Other square planar complex of the type