Naming Complexes

Rule 1:
Positive ion first followed by the negative ion
There is space in between the two names
No spaces within the same coordination
entity

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Naming Complexes
Rule 2:
Numerical prefixes are used to indicate the
number of each kind of ligand when more
than one is present
2
3
4
5
6

di
tri
tetra
penta
hexa

7
8
9
10

hepta
octa
nona
deca

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Naming Complexes
Rule 3:
If the ligand itself already contains a prefix
(eg. ethylenediamine) or is polydentate,
names are put in ( ) preceded by the prefixes:
2
3
4
5
6

bis
tris
tetrakis
pentakis
hexakis

7
8
9
10

heptakis
octakis
nonakis
decakis

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Naming Complexes
Rule 4:
Neutral ligands retain their usual name.
Names of anionic ligand end in o:
Azide, N3

azido

Oxalate, C2O42

oxalato

Bromide, Br

bromo

Oxide, O2

oxo

Chloride, Cl

chloro

Ammonia, NH3

ammine

Cyanide, CN

cyano

Carbon monoxide, CO

carbonyl

Fluoride, F

fluoro

Ethylenediamine, En

ethylene
diamine

Hydroxide, OH

hydroxo

Pyridine, NC5H5

pyridine

Water, OH2

aqua

Carbonate, CO32 carbonato

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Naming Complexes
Abbreviation for some ligands
acetylacetonato

Acac

perfluoroalkyl groups Pf

benzene

Bz

methyl

Me

ethylenediamine

En

ethyl

Et

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

EDTA

propyl

Pr

glycino

Gly

butyl

Bu

oxalato

Ox

phenyl

1,10-phenanthroline

Phen

acetyl

Ac

urea

Ur

acetato

AcO

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Naming Complexes
Rule 5:
If the complex is an anion, its name ends in
ate
No distinguishing termination if the complex
is neutral or is a cation

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Naming Complexes
Names of Some Metallate Anions
Aluminum

Aluminate

Manganese

Manganate

Chromium

Chromate

Molybdenum

Molybdate

Cobalt

Cobaltate

Nickel

Nickelate

Copper

Cuprate

Silver

Argentate

Gold

Aurate

Tin

Stannate

Iron

Ferrate

Tungsten

Tungstate

Lead

Plumbate

Zinc

Zincate

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Naming Complexes
Rule 6:
Indicate charge or oxidation no.
Stock System
Calculated oxidation number of the metal
ion is written as a roman numeral inside a
( ) after the metals name
Ewing-Bassett System
Charge of the complex in arabic is written
inside a ( ) after the metals name
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Writing Formula of Complexes

Sequence of symbols within the coordination
entity formula:
1. Central atom
2. Ligands listed in the ff order: negative ions,
neutral molecules, positive ions.

Ligands with the same charge are listed

alphabetically according to the first symbol of the
ligand formula or abbreviation, regardless of
charge

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Writing Formula of Complexes

For polyatomic ligands, donor atom is listed first
(eg. for aqua: (OH2) instead of (H2O) )
Some ambidentate ligands:
anion
Nitrite, NO2
Cyanate,

OCN

Thiocyanate,

SCN

donor
atom

formula in
complex

name

(NO2)

nitro

(ONO)

nitrito

(OCN)

cyanato

(NCO)

isocyanato

(SCN)

thiocyanato

(NCS)

isothiocyanato
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Writing Formula of Complexes

The whole complex is enclosed in square
brackets, [ ].
If charged, charge is written as a superscript after
the closing square bracket.

Polyatomic ligands and abbreviated ligands are

enclosed in parenthesis ( ); subscripts indicating
the number of each ligand present.

jcksanpascual 2016