Definition of different kinds of isomers
- Constitutional (structural) isomers - same formula, differently connected atoms; they can occur in two types:
- Coordination isomers - they occur when the structure of the whole compound is the same, but the structure of complex ion is different
- Linkage isomers - they occur when the structure of the complex ion is the same, but the donor atom which ligand uses is different
- Stereoisomers - they have the same connections between atoms, but the atoms have different spatial arrangements; they occur in two types:
- geometric (cis-trans) isomers - different spatial arrangements of atoms or groups, relative to the central metal ion.
2.2 Optical isomers - they occur when molecule cannot be superimposed with its mirror image.