Coordination Compounds

The structure of Coordination Compounds

Geometry of Complex Ions
Uses of Coordination Compounds
Dissociation Constants of Coordination
Compounds
The structure of Coordination Compounds

1.The coordination covalent bond

Put NH3 solution into CuCl2, the color

changes from light blue to deep blue.
Why ?
Cu2+ (aq) + 4NH3 (aq) = Cu(NH3)42+ (aq)
light blue deep blue
+ 4

The nitrogen atom of NH3

molecule contributes a pair of
unshared electrons to form a
covalent bond with Cu2+ , both
electrons are contributed by the
same atom.
 we called this bond as a coordinate bond. Cu(NH3)42+
(complex ion), there are four coordinate bonds.
Coordination number: The number of bonds formed by
the central ion.
A complex ion include the central ion and ligands
The central ion: the metal cation;
Ligands: the molecules or anions bonded directly to
the central ion.
e.g. Cu(NH3)42+
the central ion : Cu2+
ligands : NH3
Q: Does Cu(NH3)42+ exist by itself in the solid state?
No, the +2 charge of this ion must be balance by anions
with a total charge of -2.
e.g. [Cu(NH3)4]Cl2: one Cu(NH3) 42+ ion
two Cl- ions
We called [Cu(NH3)4]Cl2 as coordination compound.
The formula of the complex ion is set off by
brackets “[ ]”.
Q: How to determine the charge of a complex ion?
2. the charge of a complex ion
It is the algebraic sum of the charges of the metal ion
and the ligands.
Determine the charge of complex ion.
Compounds complex ion charge of complex ion
[Pt(NH3)4]Cl2 [Pt(NH3)4]2+ +2
[Pt(NH3)3Cl]Cl [Pt(NH3)3Cl]+ +1

[Pt(NH3)2Cl2] [Pt(NH3)2Cl2] 0

[Pt(NH3) Cl3]- -1
K[Pt(NH3) Cl3]
-2
K[PtCl4] [PtCl4] 2-
3. ligands and chelation agents
Ligands: molecule or anion with an unshared pair
of electrons which can donate them to a metal ion to
form a coordinate covalent bond.
e.g. H2O, NH3, F-, Cl-, OH-
In practice, a ligand contains an atom of one more
electronegative elements (C, O, N, S, F, Cl, Br, I).
the common ligands are H2O, NH3, Cl-, OH-.
The category of ligands
Monodentate ligands: one electron pair,
NH3,Cl-;
Polydentate ligands :more than one electron pair
Bidentate ligands: two electron pairs,
H2N-CH2-CH2-NH2 (en);
Tridentate ligands: three electron pairs;
And so on
Ethylenediaminetetraacetate(EDTA)
Hexadentate can form six bonds per ligand.

Chelates: the complexes formed by polydentate

ligands are often called chelates.
Chelate agents: polydentate ligands
Chelate : K2Ca(EDTA)
Chelate agent: EDTA

O
C
H2C O CH2
H2C N CH2
O C
O Ca N
CH2
O O C
C CH2 O
O

Chelate is very stable because of its structure

 Geometry of complex ions

1. Coordination number =2
Complex ions are linear. That is , the two bonds
are directed at 180 angles.

e.g.
CuCl2- Cl Cu Cl
Ag(CN)2- N≡ C Ag C≡ N
2. Coordination number =4
Four-coordinate metal Complexes may have
either of two different geometries.
One is tetrahedron, the four bonds from the
central metal ion may be directed toward the
corners of a regular tetrahedron.
e.g. Zn(NH3)42+
NH3

Zn2+
NH3
NH3
NH3
The other is square planar: the four bonds are
directed toward the corners of a square.
e.g. Pt(NH3)42+ NH3 NH3

Pt
NH3 NH3

e.g. Pt(NH3)2Cl2 (Geometric isomerism)

NH3 NH3 Cl NH3

Pt Pt
Cl Cl NH3 Cl

Cis isomer trans isomer

3. Coordination number =6
Octahedral geometry is characteristic of this
coordination number.
An octahedron is a geometric figure with six
corners and eight faces, the metal ion is located at
the center of the octahedron, the six ligands
surrounding the central metal ion.
Geometric isomerism can occur in octahedral
complexes.
e.g. Co(NH3)4Cl2+

Cl Cl

NH3 NH3 NH3 NH3

Co Co
NH3 Cl NH3 NH3

NH3 Cl

Cis isomer trans isomer

Color: violet green
 Homework--ANSWER
1. a. 3, b. 7.40, c. 6.04, d. 1.0mol/L,
e. 1 × 10-9 mol/L, f. 5.0× 10-5 mol/L
Acidic: a, c, d, f
basic: b, e
2. Acidic: a, c,e a. HF = F- + H+

basic: b, d ,f b. HCO3- + H2O =H2CO3 + OH-

c. NH4+ = H+ + NH3

d. NH3 + H2O = NH4+ + OH-

e. [Zn(H2O)4]2+ = [Zn(H2O)3]OH+ + H+

f. F- + H2O = HF + OH-