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Chemistry

Optical Isomerism in Octahedral Transition Metal Complexes

Quick fact

The cis-[Co(en)2Cl2]+ ion exists as two enantiomers that rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions, even though they have identical chemical formulas and bond lengths.

Why this is interesting

Have you ever wondered why some molecules come in left-handed and right-handed versions that are mirror images but can't be superimposed? In octahedral metal complexes, this hidden handedness can be as simple as how chelating ligands loop around the metal.