Question

What are the types of Stereoisomerism?

Answer 1

Stereoisomerism:

• “Stereoisomers have the same chemical formula and chemical bonds but they have different spatial arrangements.”
• Stereoisomerism can be categorized into two categories:

1. Geometrical isomerism
2. Optical isomerism

Geometrical isomerism:

• “This type of isomerism arises in heteroleptic complexes due to different possible geometric arrangements of the ligands.”
• Geometrical isomers of $\mathrm{Pt}\left[{\left({\mathrm{NH}}_3\right)}_2{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\right]$ is shown below.

Optical isomerism:

• “Optical isomers are mirror images that cannot be superimposed on one another. These are called enantiomers. The molecules or ions that cannot be superimposed are called chiral.”
• Optical isomers of ${\left[\mathrm{Co}{\left(\mathrm{en}\right)}_3\right]}^{3+}$is shown below: