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NEET CHEMISTRYCoordination CompoundsMedium

Question

The compound that gives a pair of enantiomorphs is: (en = NH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂)

A

[Co(NH₃)₄Cl₂]NO₂

B

[Cr(NH₃)₆][Co(CN)₆]

C

[Co(en)₂Cl₂]Cl

D

[Pt(NH₃)₄][PtCl₆]

Step-by-Step Solution

Enantiomorphs (or enantiomers) are mirror images that are non-superimposable, a property known as chirality or optical activity. This typically occurs in octahedral complexes involving didentate ligands.

  1. Analysis of [Co(en)₂Cl₂]Cl: The complex ion is [Co(en)2Cl2]+[Co(en)_2Cl_2]^+. This is an octahedral complex of the type [M(AA)2a2][M(AA)_2a_2], where 'AA' is the bidentate ligand ethylenediamine (enen) and 'a' is the monodentate ligand chloride (ClCl^-).
  • It exhibits Geometrical Isomerism (cis and trans).
  • The Trans-isomer has a plane of symmetry and is optically inactive (achiral).
  • The Cis-isomer lacks a plane of symmetry and is chiral. Therefore, the cis-isomer exists as a pair of enantiomorphs (dextro and laevo forms) .
  1. Other Options: [Co(NH3)4Cl2]NO2[Co(NH_3)_4Cl_2]NO_2: Type [Ma4b2][Ma_4b_2]. The cis-isomer is usually considered achiral in this context relative to the chelated complex, and the trans-isomer is definitely achiral. [Cr(NH3)6][Co(CN)6][Cr(NH_3)_6][Co(CN)_6]: Both ions are highly symmetrical octahedral species and do not show optical isomerism.
  • [Pt(NH3)4][PtCl6][Pt(NH_3)_4][PtCl_6]: Contains a square planar cation and octahedral anion, neither of which supports enantiomerism in this form.

Therefore, [Co(en)2Cl2]Cl[Co(en)_2Cl_2]Cl is the compound that gives a pair of enantiomorphs.

Exam Context & Concepts Covered

This question aligns with the NEET CHEMISTRY syllabus, specifically targeting concepts from Coordination Compounds. Mastering this topic is crucial for scoring well in the upcoming medical entrance examinations. Solving conceptually related problems will help you understand the nuances of these concepts and improve your problem-solving speed.

CHEMISTRYCoordination Compoundscompoundenantiomorphsnhchchnh

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