In octahedral coordination entities like [Co(NH₃)₃(NO₂)₃], if ligands occupy adjacent positions at the corners of an octahedral face, it is the facial (fac) isomer. When they are around the meridian, it is the meridional (mer) isomer.
Describe the two types of geometrical isomerism in octahedral coordination entities [Ma₃b₃], using [Co(NH₃)₃(NO₂)₃] as an example.
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In octahedral coordination entities [Ma₃b₃], two types of geometrical isomerism exist: cis and trans isomers. In cis isomers, similar ligands are adjacent, while in trans isomers, similar ligands are opposite each other. In [Co(NH₃)₃(NO₂)₃], there are two possible isomers. The cis isomer has three ammonia (NH₃) ligands adjacent to three nitrito (NO₂) ligands. The trans isomer has the ammonia and nitrito ligands positioned opposite each other. These isomers exhibit distinct spatial arrangements around the central cobalt atom, resulting in different chemical and physical properties. Geometrical isomerism is significant in understanding the diversity of coordination compounds.