How can I draw the structures of all the geometric isomers of #[Ru(H_2O)_2(NH_3)_2Cl_2]^+# . What are the mirror images of any of these chiral molecules?

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Answer 1 · 2015-07-10T20:42:42

#["Ru(H"_2"O")_2("NH"_3)_2"Cl"_2]^+# has five geometric isomers, of which the all-cis isomer is chiral.

#["Ru(H"_2"O")_2("NH"_3)_2"Cl"_2]^+# is an octahedral complex of the type #"MA"_2"B"_2"C"_2#.

Let #"A" = "H"_2"O"#, #"B" = "NH"_3#, and #"C" = "Cl"#.

There are five isomers:

(1) trans-#"A"#, trans-#"B"#, trans-#"C"#

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(2) trans-#"A"#, cis-#"B"#, cis-#"C"#

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(3) cis-#"A"#, trans-#"B"#, cis-#"C"#

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(4) cis-#"A"#, cis-#"B"#, trans-#"C"#

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(5) cis-#"A"#, cis-#"B"#, cis-#"C"#

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The all-cis isomer is not superimposable on its mirror image. It exists as a pair of enantiomers.