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What is the hydrate isomerism? Explain with an example.

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Last updated date: 29th Mar 2024
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MVSAT 2024
Answer
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- Hint: Hydrate isomerism is very similar to solvate isomerism. The only difference is that in hydrate isomerism the solvent used here is water.

Complete step-by-step solution -

Isomerism is the phenomenon in which chemical compounds have the same molecular formula but they have different structures or linkages in the actual compound. Though their formula is the same, their properties, structures and the arrangement of atoms are different. These chemical compounds are known as isomers.
There are different types of isomerism but hydrate isomerism falls under the category of coordination isomerism. In coordination isomerism, the composition of complex ions is different. In the case of the hydrate isomerism, the linkage of water molecules is different in each isomer. This only takes place when the complex is dissolved in water.
The hydrate isomers can be differentiated based on whether the water molecules are linked directly to the central metal ion of the complex or not. Let us understand this by taking these examples of coordination compounds.
$\left[ Cr{ Cl }_{ 2 }{ \left( { H }_{ 2 }O \right) }_{ 4 } \right] Cl.2H_{ 2 }O$
$\left[ Cr{ Cl }{ \left( { H }_{ 2 }O \right) }_{ 5 } \right] Cl_{ 2 }.H_{ 2 }O$
$\left[ Cr{ \left( { H }_{ 2 }O \right) }_{ 6 } \right] Cl_{ 3 }$
As we can see, there are 4 water molecules ($H_{ 2 }O$) in the first compound linked with the central metal atom while in the second one there are 5 water molecules linked with the central metal atom and there are 6 water molecules linked with the central metal atom. The basic chemical formula for this compound is $CrCl_{ 3 }.\left( { H }_{ 2 }O \right) _{ 6 }$ which is the same for all the three isomers. This type of isomerism is called the hydrate isomerism.
The colour of these three isomers is also different. The first one is bright green while the second one is grey-green and the third one is violet.

Note: Always remember that solvate isomerism is the same as hydrate isomerism. In solvate isomerism, the linkage of solvent molecules is different for all the isomers. This is the same in the case of hydrate isomerism where the solvent is water. Don’t confuse between them.
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