Coordination Compounds

Introducing Coordination Compounds

What you will learn

● Classification of Salts
● General Formula of Coordination Compounds and their Important
Terms
● Concepts of Central Metal Atom, Ligands​, Coordination Sphere​,
Ionisation Sphere​ and Coordination Number
● Classification of Complexes​ -​ (a) Based upon Charge on
Coordination Sphere (b) Based upon Type​ of Donor Group​​
Salt

An ionic compound that

contains a cation
(basic radical) and an
anion (acid radical)
 Classification of Salts

Salt

Simple salt Double salt Complex salt

Simple Salt

A simple salt is formed by

the neutralisation of an
acid and a base.

NaOH + HCl NaCl + H2O

 Double Salt

It is formed by the combination of

two or more stable compounds
in a stoichiometric ratio.

It dissociates into simple

ions completely when
dissolved in water.
 Double Salt

KCl + MgCl2 + 6H2O KCl.MgCl2.6H2O

Carnallite
 Double Salt

KCl.MgCl2.6H2O

When dissolved in water

The solution shows the properties

of K+, Mg2+, and Cl− ions.
 Complex Salt

It is formed by the combination of

two or more stable compounds in
a stoichiometric ratio.

However, it does not

dissociate into simple ions
when dissolved in water.
Complex Salt

Fe(CN)2 + 4KCN Fe(CN)2.4KCN

Potassium ferrocyanide
 Complex Salt

Fe(CN)2.4KCN

When dissolved in water

The solution does not show_the

properties of Fe2+ and CN .
 Complex Salt

K4[Fe(CN)6]

Complex ions are

shown by square
brackets.
Exists as a
distinct entity
 Complex Salt

Solution of K4[Fe(CN)6]

+ _
4
K [Fe(CN)6]

Gives the Does not dissociate

_
identification into Fe2+ and CN
test of K + ions to give the
identification test
Did You Know?
Coordination Compounds

Metal atom or ion

attached to a group of
neutral molecules/ions by
coordinate covalent bonds is
called a coordination
compound.

Example: K4[Fe(CN)6]
Coordination Compounds

Ligands are Lewis bases which donate

lone pair(s) of electrons to a central
metal atom.
 Coordination Compounds

General
formula

a+ a−
[M(L)n] X
 Coordination Compounds

General
formula

a+ a−
[M(L)n] X

Coordination
entity
 Coordination Entity

The central atom/ion and the ​ligands

attached to it are
enclosed​ in square brackets
along with electrical charge
on it, collectively termed as
the coordination entity.
Coordination Entity

3+
3+ −−
[Co(NH
[Co(NH33))66]] 3Cl
3Cl

Coordination
entity
Coordination Compounds

Known as
central metal
Central atom atom/ion

Generally, metals
 Central Atom

In a coordination entity, the atom/ion

to which a fixed number of ions/groups
are bound in a definite geometrical
arrangement around it, is
known as the central atom or ion.

Also referred to
as Lewis acids
Central Metal Atom/Ion

[Co(NH3)6]Cl3

Central metal
atom/ion
 Coordination Compounds

General
formula
a+ a−
[M(L)n] X

Ligand
 Ligands

The electron-rich
species bound to the
central atom/ion inside
the square bracket are
known as ligands.
 Ligands

Ligand Behaves as
Lewis base

In general, donates
the electron to the
central metal atom
 Ligands

[Co(NH
[Co(NH3)6]Cl3

Ligand
 Coordination Compound

General
formula
a+ a−
[M(L)n] X

Charge on the
coordination
entity
Charge on Coordination Entity

3+
[Co(NH3)6] 3+ 3Cl−

Charge on the
coordination
entity
 Coordination Compound

General
formula

a+ a−
[M(L)n] X

Coordination
sphere
Coordination Sphere

The central atom/ion and the

ligands attached to it are enclosed
in square brackets termed as the
coordination sphere.
 Coordination Sphere

3+
3+ −−
[Co(NH
[Co(NH33))66]] 3Cl
3Cl

Coordination
sphere
 Coordination Compounds

General
formula
a+ a−
[M(L)n] X

Counter ion
Counter Ion

−
3Cl−
Co(NH3)6]3+ 3Cl
[[Co(NH

Counter ion
Can counter ion be a
complex compound?
Counter Ion as Complex Compound

When there are two

coordination spheres
joined together by an
ionisation sphere
Counter Ion as Complex Compound

[Ag(NH3)2][Ag(CN)2]

[Cr(NH3)6][Co(CN)6]
 Ionisation Sphere

The molecule or ionic species

present outside the
coordination sphere constitute
the ionisation sphere.

In K4[Fe(CN)6], the
+
ionisation sphere is K .
 Coordination Compounds

General
formula a+ a−
[M(L)n] X

Coordination
number
Coordination Number

The coordination number

(CN) of a metal ion in a
complex can be defined as

The number of ligand donor

atoms to which the metal
is directly bonded
Coordination Number

−
3Cl−
Co(NH3)6]3+ 3Cl
[[Co(NH

Coordination
number
Coordination Number

2
_
[Pt(Cl)6]

Coordination number of Pt = 6

2+
[Ni(NH3)4]

Coordination number of Ni = 4
Coordination Polyhedron

The spatial arrangement of

the ligand atoms that are directly
attached to the central atom/ion
defines a coordination polyhedron
about the central atom.

The most common coordination

polyhedra are octahedral,
square planar, and tetrahedral.
Coordination Polyhedron

Octahedral Tetrahedral Square planar

Oxidation Number of Central Metal Atom

The charge that a metal

would carry if all the ligands
are removed along with
the electron pairs that are
shared with the central atom
Oxidation Number of Central Metal Atom

3
_
[Cu(CN)4]

x -1

x + 4(-1) = -3

x = +1

Oxidation
number of Cu
Classification
Organometallic
compounds
Nomenclature

Isomerism

Theories
Importance and
applications

Coordination
compounds
 Based upon the charge on
the coordination sphere

Classification
Based upon the type
of complex
of the donor group
Classification of Complex

Based on the charge on

the coordination sphere

Positive Neutral Negative

Classification of Complex

Based on the charge on

the coordination sphere

Positive Neutral Negative

Charge on the
coordination sphere:
Positive Cationic
complex
Positively Charged Coordination Compound

2+
[Cu(NH3)4]

2+
Classification of Complex

Based on the charge on

the coordination sphere

Positive Neutral Negative

Neutral
Charge on the
complex
coordination sphere:
Absent or no charge
Neutral Coordination Compound

[Ni(CO)4]
Classification of Complex

Based on the charge on

the coordination sphere

Positive Neutral Negative

Charge on the
Anionic coordination sphere:
complex Negative
Negatively Charged Coordination Compounds

3−
[Fe(CN)6]

3-
Classification of Complex

Based on the type

of the donor group

Homoleptic Heteroleptic
Homoleptic Complex
3+

A metal is bound to
only one kind of
donor group.

3+
Example: [Co(NH3)6]
Heteroleptic Complex

A metal is bound to
more than one kind
of donor groups.

+
Example: [Co(NH3)4Cl2]