Complete the exercises below. Determine if each of the following metal complexes is chiral and therefore has an optical isomer: b. octahedral trans-[Ru(bipy)₂Cl₂].

Chirality refers to the geometric property of a molecule that makes it non-superimposable on its mirror image, much like left and right hands. A chiral molecule typically has an asymmetric carbon atom, but in coordination complexes, chirality can arise from the arrangement of ligands around a central metal atom. Understanding chirality is essential for determining whether a complex can exist in two optical isomers.

Octahedral geometry is a common arrangement for coordination complexes where a central metal atom is surrounded by six ligands at the corners of an octahedron. This geometry can lead to different spatial arrangements of ligands, which can affect the chirality of the complex. In the case of trans-[Ru(bipy)₂Cl₂], the arrangement of bipy and Cl ligands is crucial for assessing its optical activity.

Optical isomerism occurs when two compounds are mirror images of each other and cannot be superimposed, leading to different optical activities. These isomers, known as enantiomers, rotate plane-polarized light in opposite directions. For a complex to exhibit optical isomerism, it must be chiral, which is determined by the spatial arrangement of its ligands, as seen in the analysis of trans-[Ru(bipy)₂Cl₂].