Coordinate Compounds - What is Central atom and Coordination number

  • Coordinate compounds are those compounds in which a central metal atom or ion is surrounded by a certain number of ligands.
  • Ligands are the atoms, ions, or molecules that donate electrons to the central metal atom or ion.
  • The central atom is usually a transition metal, such as iron, copper, or nickel, and it has vacant orbitals available to accept electron pairs from the ligands.
  • The coordination number is the number of ligands bonded to the central metal atom.
  • Examples of coordinate compounds include:
    • [Fe(CN)6]4-
    • [Cu(NH3)4]2+
    • [Ni(CO)4]
  • The coordination number can range from 2 to 12, depending on the size and atomic properties of the central metal atom.
  • In [Fe(CN)6]4-, the central metal atom is Fe, and the coordination number is 6.
  • In [Cu(NH3)4]2+, the central metal atom is Cu, and the coordination number is 4.
  • In [Ni(CO)4], the central metal atom is Ni, and the coordination number is 4.
  • The coordination number determines the geometry of the coordinate compound and affects its properties and reactivity.
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Coordinate Compounds - What is Central atom and Coordination number Coordinate compounds are those compounds in which a central metal atom or ion is surrounded by a certain number of ligands. Ligands are the atoms, ions, or molecules that donate electrons to the central metal atom or ion. The central atom is usually a transition metal, such as iron, copper, or nickel, and it has vacant orbitals available to accept electron pairs from the ligands. The coordination number is the number of ligands bonded to the central metal atom. Examples of coordinate compounds include: [Fe(CN)6]4- [Cu(NH3)4]2+ [Ni(CO)4] The coordination number can range from 2 to 12, depending on the size and atomic properties of the central metal atom. In [Fe(CN)6]4-, the central metal atom is Fe, and the coordination number is 6. In [Cu(NH3)4]2+, the central metal atom is Cu, and the coordination number is 4. In [Ni(CO)4], the central metal atom is Ni, and the coordination number is 4. The coordination number determines the geometry of the coordinate compound and affects its properties and reactivity.