Coordination Compounds 1

By : A P SINGH BHADOURIYA
1 3-Jul-19
Introduction
Compounds made up of simpler compounds are
called molecular/ addition compound. These are
of two types :
(i) Double salts :
K2SO4 and Al2 (SO4)3 give K2SO4.Al2 (SO4)3.24H2O
(Potash Alum) is a double salt.
(ii) Complex compounds or coordination

compounds :
e.g. CoCl3 and NH3 Yields CoCl3· (NH3)6 and CoCl3·
(NH3)5. is a Complex compounds.
2 3-Jul-19
Difference Between A Double Salt And A Complex:
 Double salts such as carnallite, KCl.MgCl2.6H2O, Mohr’s

salt, FeSO4.(NH4)2SO4.6H2O, potash alum,
K2Al2(SO4)4.24H2O, etc. dissociate into simple ions
completely when dissolved in water.
K2SO4.Al2 (SO4)3.24H2O (aq) --> 2K+(aq) + 2 Al3+ (aq) + 4 SO42-(aq)
 However, complex compounds such as K4[Fe(CN)6]4 do

not dissociate into simple Fe 2+and CN─ ions.
K4[Fe(CN)6]4 (aq) ----> 4K+(aq) + [Fe(CN)6]4 4-

(aq)
CoCl3· (NH3)6 (aq) ----> 3 Cl─ + [Co(NH3)6]3+ (aq)
3 3-Jul-19
Some important terms related to coordination
compounds
(i) Coordination entity: A complex compound that
constitutes a central metal (atom or ion) linked with a fixed
number of ions or molecules.
For example, [Ni(CO)4], [PtCl2(NH3)2], [Fe(CN)6]4–,
[Co(NH3)6]3+., etc.
(ii) Central atom/ion: The atom or ion to which a fixed

number of ions/groups are bound in a certain geometrical
arrangement around it.
For example, Fe3+ and Ni2+ are the central ions in the
coordination compounds [Fe(CN)6]3– and NiCl2.6H2O
respectively.
Since it accepts a lone pair of electrons for the formation
of coordinate bond, it is also referred to as Lewis acids
4 3-Jul-19
(iii) Ligands:
The atoms, ions or molecules which donate a pair of
electrons to the metal atom to form a coordinate
bond, are called ligands. For example, NH3, H2O, Cl─,
CN─, CO etc.
Depending on the number of donor atoms, a
ligand can be of following types:
(a) Unidentate or Monodentale ligand:

It contains only one donor atom.
e.g. NH3, H2O, Cl─, CN─, CO in which N,O,
Cl, C are the donor atoms which bind
with metal atom or ion.
5 3-Jul-19
(b) Didentate or Bidentate ligand:
When a ligand has two donor atoms,
e.g. ethane-1,2-diamine (H2NCH2CH2NH2 ),
in which the two nitrogen atoms of the amino
group act as donor atoms.
(c) Polydentate or Multidentate ligand:

When several donor atoms are present in a
single ligand,
e.g. (EDTA4–) (Ethylenediaminetetraacetate),
is an important hexadentate ligand which can bind
through two nitrogen and four oxygen donor atoms
to a central metal ion.
6 3-Jul-19
Ethylene Diamine
7 3-Jul-19
EDTA
8 3-Jul-19
9 3-Jul-19
(d) Chelate ligand:
A di- or polydentate ligand is said to be a chelate
ligand when it uses its two or more donor atoms to
bind a single metal ion.
The number of such ligating groups is called the

denticity of the ligand.
A complex compound in which the donor atoms are

attached to the metal so that the metal becomes a
part of the heterocyclic ring, is called chelate
complex.
10 3-Jul-19
chlorophyl a
11 3-Jul-19
(v) Coordination number (CN):
The number of unidentate ligands directly bonded to the
central metal atom/ion is known as the coordination number
of that metal ion/atom.
e.g. in the complex ions, [ Ag(NH3)2]2+ , [Zn(CN)4]2─ , &

[Ni(NH3)6]2+ the coordination number of Ag, Zn and Ni are
2, 4 and 6 respectively.
When the bonded ligands are didentate the coordination

number is double the number of ligands because the number
of bonds linked to the central metal becomes double.
e.g. the coordination number of Fe in [Fe(C2O4)3] 3─is 6,
because C2O42─is a didentate ligand
12 3-Jul-19
13 3-Jul-19
(vi) Coordination polyhedron:
Spatial arrangement of the ligand atoms which are
directly attached to the central atom/ion.
For example, the coordination polyhedra of [Ni(CO)4 ,
[Co(NH3)6]3+ & [PtCl4] are tetrahedral, octrahedral and square
planar respectively
(vii) Coordination sphere:

The coordination complex which constitutes the central
atom/ion and the ligands, are represented in a square
bracket, collectively termed as coordination sphere.
The ionisable groups are written outside the bracket, called
counter ions.
For example, in the complex K4[Fe(CN)6] the coordination
sphere is [Fe(CN)6]4–, and the counter ion is K+.
14 3-Jul-19
(viii) Homoleptic and Heteroleptic complexes:
Complexes in which a metal is bound to only one kind

of donor groups, are known as homoleptic.
e.g., [Co(NH3)6]3+,
Complexes in which a metal is bound to more than

one kind of donor groups,are known as heteroleptic.
e.g., [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+,
15 3-Jul-19
(ix) Charge on a complex ion:
The charge carried by a complex ion is the

algebraic sum of charges carried by the central
metal ion and the coordinated groups or ions.
For example,
[Fe(CN)6]3–, Fe3+ = +3 charge, 6 CN─ = 6 × (─1) = ─ 6 Charge
Thus charge on [Fe(CN)6] = +3 – 6 = − 3
16 3-Jul-19
Charge on the metal ion:
17 3-Jul-19
Types of complex ion:
(i) Cationic complex ; [ Ag(NH3)2]2+ , [Ni(NH3)6]2+
(ii) Anionic complex ; [Fe(CN)6]3–, [Zn(CN)4]2─
(iii) Neutral complex ; [Co(NH3)3Cl3],[ Ni(CO)4 ] etc
18 3-Jul-19
Werner’s theory of coordination compounds
The main postulates of Werner’s theory (proposed by Werner
in 1898), are as follows:
a. In coordination compounds metals show two types of
linkages (valancies), primary and secondary.
b. The primary valancies are normally ionisable and are
satisfied by negative ions.
c. The secondary valancies are non-ionisable which are
satisfied by negative ions or neutral molecules.
The secondary valency is equal to the coordination
number and is fixed for a metal.
d. The ions/groups bound by the secondry linkages to the
metal have characteristic spatial arrangements
corresponding to different coordination numbers.
Werner further postulated that the most common
geometrical shapes of coordination compounds are
octahedral, tetrahedral and square19
planar. 3-Jul-19
IUPAC Nomenclature of coordination compounds
(i) Writing the formulas of mononuclear (containing

single central metal atom) coordination compounds:
(a) The central atom is listed first.
(b) The ligands are then listed in alphabetical order without

considering their charge.
(c) Polydentate ligands are also written alphabetically. In

case of abbreviated ligand, the first letter of
abbreviation is used to determine the position of ligand
in alphabetical order.
20 3-Jul-19
(d) The formula of the entire coordination entity, whether
charged or uncharged, is enclosed in square brackets.
When ligands are polyatomic, their formulas are
enclosed in parantheses. Ligand abbreviations are
also enclosed in parantheses.
(e) There should be no space between the ligands and the

metal within a coordination sphere.
(f) When the formula of a charged coordination entity is to

be written without that of the counter ion, the charge is
indicated outside the square brackets as a right
superscript with the number before the sign.
e.g.[Ag(NH3)2]2+ , [Ni(NH3)6]2+ [Fe(CN)6]3–, etc.
(g) The charge of cation(s) is balanced by the charge of

anion(s). 21 3-Jul-19
(ii) Writing the name of coordination compounds:
(a) The name of cation is written first in both positively and
negatively charged coordination entities followed by the
naming of anion.
(b) The legands are named in an alphabetical order before

the name of central atom/ion.
(This procedure is opposite to that in writing formula).
(c) Names of anionic legands and in – O, those of cationic

and neutral ligands are the same except aqua for H2O,
ammine for NH3, carbonyl for CO and nitrosyl for NO.
These are placed within closing marks [ ].
Note: IUPAC recommendations (2004) The anion endings 'ide', 'ate'

and 'ite' (cf. Section IR-5.3.3) are changed to 'ido', 'ato' and 'ito',
respectively, when generating the prefix for the central atom 3-Jul-19
22
(d) Prefixes mono, di, tri, etc., are used to indicate the
number of the individual ligands in the coordination
entity.
When the names of the ligands include a numerical

prefix, then the terms, bis, tris, tetrakis are used, the
ligand to which they refer being placed in parenthesis.
e.g., [NiCl2(PPh3)2] is named as

dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine) nickel (II).
(e) Oxidation state of the metal in cation, anion or neutral

coordination entity is indicated by roman numerical in
parenthesis.
23 3-Jul-19
f) If the complex ion is a cation, the metal is named same as
the element.
e.g., Co in a complex cation is called cobalt and Pt is
called platinum.
(g) If the complex ion is an anion, the name of the metal

ends with the suffix- ate.
e.g., Co in a complex [Co(NH3)5Br]2− anion, is called

cobaltate.
For some metals, the latin names are used in the
complex anions,
e.g., ferrate for Fe.
(g) The neutral complex molecule is named similar to that of

the complex cation. 24 3-Jul-19
Example 1. Write the IUPAC name of the following
coordination compounds:
1. [Cr(NH3)3(H2O)3]Cl3
triamminetriaquachromium(III) chloride
2. [Co(H2NCH2CH2NH2)3]2(SO4)3
tris(ethane-1,2–diammine)cobalt(III) sulphate.
3. [Ag(NH3)2][Ag(CN)2]
diamminesilver(I) dicyanoargentate(I)
4. Hg[Co(SCN)4]
Mercury tetrathiocyanatocobaltate(III)
5. [CoCl2(en)2]Cl
Dichloridobis(ethane-1,2-diamine)cobalt(III) chloride
25 3-Jul-19
Example 2. Write the molecular formulas of the following
coordination compounds:
(i) Potassium tetrahydroxidoozincate(II)
K2[Zn (OH) 4 ]
(ii) Diamminechloridonitrito-N-platinum(II)
[Pt(NH3)2Cl(NO2)]
(iii)Tetraammineaquachloridocobalt(III) chloride
[Co(NH3)4(H2O)Cl]
(iv) Potassium trioxalatoaluminate(III)
K3[Al(C2O4)3] 26 3-Jul-19
Q.1. Write the formulas for the following coordination
compounds:
(i) Tetraamineaquachloridocobalt(III) chloride
(ii) Potassium tetrahydroxozincate(II)
(iii) Potassium trioxalatoaluminate(III)
(iv) Dichloridobis(ethane-1,2-diamine)cobalt(III)
(v) Tetracarbonylnickel(0)
27 3-Jul-19
Q.2. Write the IUPAC names of the following coordination
compounds:
(i) [Co(NH3)6]Cl3
(ii) [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2
(iii) K3[Fe(CN)6]
(iv) K3[Fe(C2O4)3]
(v) K2[PdCl4]
(vi) [Pt(NH3)2Cl(NH2CH3)]Cl
28 3-Jul-19
29 3-Jul-19
30 3-Jul-19

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By : A P SINGH BHADOURIYA

(ii) Complex compounds or coordination

 Double salts such as carnallite, KCl.MgCl2.6H2O, Mohr’s

K2SO4.Al2 (SO4)3.24H2O (aq) --> 2K+(aq) + 2 Al3+ (aq) + 4 SO42-(aq)

 However, complex compounds such as K4[Fe(CN)6]4 do

K4[Fe(CN)6]4 (aq) ----> 4K+(aq) + [Fe(CN)6]4 4-

CoCl3· (NH3)6 (aq) ----> 3 Cl─ + [Co(NH3)6]3+ (aq)

(ii) Central atom/ion: The atom or ion to which a fixed

(a) Unidentate or Monodentale ligand:

(c) Polydentate or Multidentate ligand:

The number of such ligating groups is called the

A complex compound in which the donor atoms are

e.g. in the complex ions, [ Ag(NH3)2]2+ , [Zn(CN)4]2─ , &

When the bonded ligands are didentate the coordination

(vii) Coordination sphere:

Complexes in which a metal is bound to only one kind

Complexes in which a metal is bound to more than

The charge carried by a complex ion is the

[Fe(CN)6]3–, Fe3+ = +3 charge, 6 CN─ = 6 × (─1) = ─ 6 Charge

Thus charge on [Fe(CN)6] = +3 – 6 = − 3

(i) Cationic complex ; [ Ag(NH3)2]2+ , [Ni(NH3)6]2+

(ii) Anionic complex ; [Fe(CN)6]3–, [Zn(CN)4]2─

(iii) Neutral complex ; [Co(NH3)3Cl3],[ Ni(CO)4 ] etc

(i) Writing the formulas of mononuclear (containing

(a) The central atom is listed first.

(b) The ligands are then listed in alphabetical order without

(c) Polydentate ligands are also written alphabetically. In

(e) There should be no space between the ligands and the

(f) When the formula of a charged coordination entity is to

(g) The charge of cation(s) is balanced by the charge of

(b) The legands are named in an alphabetical order before

(c) Names of anionic legands and in – O, those of cationic

Note: IUPAC recommendations (2004) The anion endings 'ide', 'ate'

When the names of the ligands include a numerical

e.g., [NiCl2(PPh3)2] is named as

(e) Oxidation state of the metal in cation, anion or neutral

(g) If the complex ion is an anion, the name of the metal

e.g., Co in a complex [Co(NH3)5Br]2− anion, is called

(g) The neutral complex molecule is named similar to that of

(iv) Potassium trioxalatoaluminate(III)

(i) Tetraamineaquachloridocobalt(III) chloride

(ii) Potassium tetrahydroxozincate(II)

(iii) Potassium trioxalatoaluminate(III)

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