What is an ionization isomer?

1 Answer
Nov 19, 2015

We see these in transition metal complexes. Take the following compound for example:

[CoBr(NH3)5]SO4

This is called pentaamminebromocobalt sulfate.

[CoSO4(NH3)5]Br

This is called pentaamminesulfatocobalt bromide.

In either case, the cobalt is Co(III), and none of the ammonia molecules contribute to the charge. The charges also all cancel out nicely.

(Sulfate is a resonance hybrid structure in real life, and each oxygen shares a -1/2 charge with the cobalt.)