How many stereoisomers are possible for tetrahedral [NiCl2Br2]2–?

1 Answer
Nov 12, 2015

No stereoisomers are possible for tetrahedral #["NiCl"_2"Br"_2]^(2-)#.

Explanation:

The only possible stereoisomer of a tetrahedral ion or molecule is its nonsuperimposable mirror image (enantiomer).

A tetrahedral molecule or ion must have four different atoms or groups attached to the central atom to be chiral and exist as a pair of enantiomers.

#["NiCl"_2"Br"_2]^(2-)# has two #"Br"# atoms and two #"Cl"# atoms attached to the central #"Ni"# atom.

The tetrahedral structure is similar to that of #"CH"_2"Cl"_2#

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It can't possibly be chiral.

So tetrahedral #["NiCl"_2"Br"_2]^(2-)# has no stereoisomers.