Question

How many geometrical isomers are possible in the following coordination entity? 

[Co(NH₃)₃Cl₃]

Answer 1

Two geometrical isomers are possible.

\[\begin{array}{cc} \phantom{..}\ce{Cl}\phantom{....}\ce{NH3}\phantom{.}\ce{NH3}\\ \backslash\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}/\\ \phantom{.}\ce{Co}\\ /\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}\backslash\\ \ce{\underset{fac}{\phantom{..}Cl\phantom{...}Cl\phantom{...}NH3}} \end{array}\]

\[\begin{array}{cc} \ce{NH3}\phantom{...}\ce{NH3}\phantom{.}\ce{Cl}\phantom{..}\\ \backslash\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}/\\ \phantom{.}\ce{Co}\\ /\phantom{...}|\phantom{...}\backslash\\ \ce{\underset{mer}{Cl\phantom{...}NH3\phantom{.}Cl}} \end{array}\]