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Transition Metals

Complex Ions: Why a Species Can Act as a Ligand, and Coordination Number

  • 3 things to know
  • Papers 1 and 3

Overview

The lone pair that lets a species act as a ligand, coordination number, and the shapes complexes take.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Why can water act as a ligand?

Key term

Why can ammonia act as a ligand?

Key term

Why can chloride ions act as ligands?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Why can water act as a ligand?

    Model answer

    Water has two lone pairs on the oxygen atom, one of which can be donated to form a coordinate bond.

  2. 2

    Why can ammonia act as a ligand?

    Model answer

    Ammonia has a lone pair on the nitrogen atom that can be donated to form a coordinate bond.

  3. 3

    Why can chloride ions act as ligands?

    Model answer

    Chloride ions have lone pairs of electrons that can be donated to form coordinate bonds.

  4. 4

    What determines whether a ligand is monodentate, bidentate, or multidentate?

    Model answer

    The number of atoms in the ligand that have lone pairs capable of forming coordinate bonds with the metal ion.

  5. 5

    What is the typical coordination number for complexes containing small ligands such as water or ammonia?

    Model answer

    Six.

  6. 6

    What is the typical coordination number for complexes containing larger ligands such as chloride ions?

    Model answer

    Four.

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