How many stereoisomers does [Pt Br4 Cl2]2- have?
I think it has 2 geo., but how many optical?
To determine the number of stereoisomers in the compound [Pt Br4 Cl2]2-, we need to consider both geometric isomerism and optical isomerism.
Geometric isomerism occurs when there is a restricted rotation around a bond, resulting in different spatial arrangements of atoms. In the given compound, since the two chloride ligands are identical and adjacent to each other, they cannot exhibit geometric isomerism. Thus, there are no geometric isomers in [Pt Br4 Cl2]2-.
Now let's consider optical isomerism. Optical isomerism arises due to the presence of chiral centers in a molecule. A chiral center is a carbon atom that is bonded to four different groups, creating a non-superimposable mirror image. To determine the number of optical isomers, we need to identify the number of chiral centers in the compound.
In [Pt Br4 Cl2]2-, the central platinum (Pt) atom does not have chiral centers as it is bonded to two identical chloride (Cl) ligands. Therefore, there are no chiral centers in this compound.
Since there are no chiral centers, there are no optical isomers in [Pt Br4 Cl2]2-.
So, in summary, [Pt Br4 Cl2]2- has no geometric isomers and no optical isomers.