coordination isomerism

chemistry

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June 24, 2026

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Coordination isomerism occurs in ionic coordination compounds where complex cations and anions can swap ligands. This results in compounds with the same chemical formula but different structural arrangements of these ligands around the metal atoms. For example, [Co(NH₃)₆][Cr(CN)₆] and [Cr(NH₃)₆][Co(CN)₆] are coordination isomers because the ammine (NH₃) and cyanide (CN) ligands have been exchanged between the cobalt and chromium metal centers. This type of isomerism highlights the distinct bonding environments within coordination compounds.1

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coordination compound
Coordination isomerism
Ionic coordination compounds that contain complex cations and anions can exist as isomers if the ligands associated with the two metal atoms are exchanged, as in the pair of compounds, hexaamminecobalt(3+) hexacyanochromate(3–), [Co(NH₃)₆][Cr(CN)₆], and hexaamminechromium(3+) hexacyanocobaltate(3–), [Cr(NH₃)₆
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Ionic coordination compounds that contain complex cations and anions can exist as isomers if the ligands associated with the two metal atoms are exchanged, as in the pair of compounds, hexaamminecobalt(3+) hexacyanochromate(3–), [Co(NH₃)₆][Cr(CN)₆], and hexaamminechromium(3+) hexacyanocobaltate(3–), [Cr(NH₃)₆
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