Lesson 3.2.5.3

3.2.5.3 Shapes of complex ions Quiz: AQA Chemistry, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.2.5.3, Shapes of complex ions: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Chemistry (7405), Unit 2: Inorganic chemistry, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What shape do transition metal ions commonly form with small ligands such as H2O and NH3?

    • Octahedral
    • Linear
    • Trigonal planar
    • Tetrahedral

  2. What shape do transition metal ions commonly form with larger ligands such as Cl-?

    • Linear
    • Tetrahedral
    • Pyramidal
    • Octahedral

  3. What is the shape of the complex ion [Ag(NH3)2]+?

    • Octahedral
    • Square planar
    • Tetrahedral
    • Linear

  4. Which type of isomerism can octahedral complexes show with monodentate ligands?

    • Cis-trans isomerism
    • Chain isomerism
    • No isomerism is possible
    • Optical isomerism only

  5. Which type of isomerism can octahedral complexes show with bidentate ligands?

    • Position isomerism
    • Functional group isomerism
    • Optical isomerism
    • Chain isomerism

  6. Which type of isomerism can square planar complexes display?

    • No isomerism of any kind
    • Optical isomerism only
    • Linear isomerism
    • Cis-trans isomerism

  7. Which complex is cisplatin?

    • The optical isomer of [Pt(en)3]2+
    • A tetrahedral complex of platinum
    • The cis isomer of [Pt(NH3)2Cl2]
    • The trans isomer of [Pt(NH3)2Cl2]

  8. How many geometric isomers does square planar [Pt(NH3)2Cl2] have?

    • 1
    • 3
    • 2
    • 4

  9. Why does a tetrahedral complex not show cis-trans isomerism?

    • Tetrahedral complexes have no ligands
    • All ligand positions are adjacent to each other, so no two ligands are opposite
    • Tetrahedral complexes only have bidentate ligands
    • Tetrahedral complexes always contain an odd number of ligands

  10. Which complex can show optical isomerism?

    • [Ag(NH3)2]+
    • [Ni(NH3)6]2+
    • [Ni(H2NCH2CH2NH2)3]2+
    • [NiCl4]2-

  11. What is the shape of [CoCl4]2- ?

    • Linear
    • Tetrahedral
    • Octahedral
    • Trigonal bipyramidal

  12. What is the shape of the complex [Cu(H2O)6]2+?

    • Octahedral
    • Square pyramidal with one water missing
    • Linear
    • Tetrahedral

  13. Cis-trans isomers differ in which way?

    • The oxidation state of the metal ion
    • The colour of the complex only
    • The number of electrons in the metal ion
    • The positions of the ligands relative to each other

  14. Which statement about optical isomers is correct?

    • They are non-superimposable mirror images of each other
    • They always have different colours and formulas
    • They have different chemical formulas
    • They are identical in every way and cannot be distinguished

  15. Which ion forms the linear complex used in Tollens reagent?

    • Fe3+
    • Ag+
    • Co2+
    • Cu2+

  16. Why do octahedral complexes with small ligands such as H2O and NH3 form most readily?

    • Small ligands are charged and repel each other
    • Small ligands always give tetrahedral complexes
    • Small ligands can pack six around the metal ion without steric crowding
    • Small ligands form only one co-ordinate bond each

  17. Which complex is tetrahedral?

    • [CuCl4]2-
    • [Ni(en)3]2+
    • [Cu(H2O)6]2+
    • [Ag(NH3)2]+

  18. Why does [Pt(NH3)2Cl2] show cis and trans isomers but [Pt(NH3)4]2+ does not?

    • [Pt(NH3)4]2+ is always tetrahedral
    • Both complexes have identical formulas so no isomers are possible
    • [Pt(NH3)4]2+ has no co-ordinate bonds
    • Two different ligand types allow adjacent and opposite arrangements to be distinguished

  19. A chemist makes a complex [Co(en)2Cl2]+ with two bidentate and two monodentate ligands. How many co-ordinate bonds are formed in total?

    • 6
    • 5
    • 8
    • 4

  20. Explain why a tetrahedral complex with four identical ligands has no optical isomer.

    • The complex has no metal ion to make it chiral
    • Optical isomers only form with monodentate ligands
    • A tetrahedron with identical ligands has a plane of symmetry, so it is superimposable on its mirror image
    • Tetrahedral complexes always have bidentate ligands

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