Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-chemistry-b-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2023/paper-2/b7/a/solution

For the usual octahedral Ni(II) hydration-isomer series, distinguish coordinated water from water of crystallization:
The first two coordination spheres have no cis/trans choice because they contain zero or one chloride. The last hydration class has two geometrical isomers: the chlorides occupy adjacent or opposite octahedral positions. Thus there are three hydration classes and four structures when cis/trans isomerism is included. Every formula retains two chlorides and six waters overall; the coordination number remains six. The schematic in B6(c) displays the distinct octahedral connectivities. This enumeration states the usual six-coordinate interpretation, rather than treating unspecified changes in coordination number as further members of the same elementary series.

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