Complex ions - Geometrical isomerism question (A2)

Could someone tell me which diagram is cis and which one is trans? And maybe the reason too, if that's ok. Thank u!

This one is trans - bond angles for NO2 are 2 x 90 and 1 x 180

This one is cis - bond angles for NO2 are 3 x 90

Trans means across so in the first one two of the NO2 groups are across from each other with 180 bond angle.

(edited 5 years ago)

Thank you! I was confused because I thought the bonds to the front and the back (dotted and bold) have an angle of 180. I guess I was wrong

Original post by Madasahatter

This one is trans - bond angles for NO2 are 2 x 90 and 1 x 180

This one is cis - bond angles for NO2 are 3 x 90

Trans means across so in the first one two of the NO2 groups are across from each other with 180 bond angle.

Thank you! I was confused because I thought the bonds to the front and the back (dotted and bold) have an angle of 180. I guess I was wrong

There are 4 dotted and bold around the central atom in a planar arrangement so that is 360 / 4 = 90 degrees.

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