The complexes shown below are __________

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The two complexes shown have the same coordination sphere, but differ in the way the ligands are attached to the central metal ion. This type of isomerism is known as linkage isomerism. The ligand NH3 can coordinate through either the N atom (as in the left complex) or through the H atom (as in the right complex), leading to the formation of linkage isomers. The complexes are not coordination isomers because the identity and number of ligands coordinated to the metal ion are the same in both complexes. They are also not enantiomers because they are not mirror images of each other. Lastly, they are not stereoisomers because stereoisomers differ in the spatial arrangement of ligands and have the same connectivity.

The Complexes Shown Below Are __________