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Structural isomers have different connectivity between atoms, while stereoisomers have different spatial arrangements of atoms.
Structural isomers, also known as constitutional isomers, have the same chemical formula but differ in the way the atoms are bonded to each other. This means that they have different connectivity between atoms. For example, the coordination compound [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl can have two structural isomers: cis-[Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ and trans-[Co(NH3)4Cl2]+. In the cis-isomer, two chloride ions are adjacent to each other, while in the trans-isomer, they are opposite to each other.
On the other hand, stereoisomers have the same connectivity between atoms but differ in the spatial arrangement of atoms. This means that they have the same chemical formula and the same bonds, but different three-dimensional structures. There are two types of stereoisomers: geometric isomers and optical isomers. Geometric isomers have different arrangements of ligands around a metal ion due to restricted rotation, while optical isomers are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. For example, the coordination compound [Co(en)2Cl2]+ has two geometric isomers: cis-[Co(en)2Cl2]+ and trans-[Co(en)2Cl2]+, and two optical isomers: [Co(R,R-en)2Cl2]+ and [Co(S,S-en)2Cl2]+.
In conclusion, the main difference between structural and stereoisomers of coordination compounds is the way they differ in their connectivity and spatial arrangement of atoms, respectively. Understanding these differences is crucial in the study of coordination chemistry and its applications.
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