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IUPAC Naming of Complexes S. Santhanam

1. The cation is named first in a complex entity (+ve or-ve)

2. ligands are named alphabetically before the name of the central metal atom/ion

 
3. The name of the anionic ligand will end with  ido Cl  : Chlorido , neutral ligands are the same except
H 2O : aqua, NH3 : ammine, CO: Carbonyl, NO: nitrosyl. These are placed within ( )

4. Prefixes used to indicate the number of ligands as mono (1), di (2), tri (3) in the co-ordination entity and if the
name of the ligand itself includes a numerical prefix then the terms bis-(2), tris- (3), tetrakis (4).. are to be used.
(eg) If the ligand in the co-ordination entity has  PPh3  2 : bis (triphenyl phosphine) instead of di

5. The oxidation state of the central metal atom/ion is represented in Roman numerals in brackets after the name
of the metal atom/ion.

6. All anionic complexes will end with –ate. In cationic/ neutral complexes the central metal is named same as the
3
element. Co  C2O4 3  is an anionic complex: … cobaltate.
2
Cu  NH 3 4  : cationic …….copper (II) ion  Ni  CO 4  is a neutral complex …. nickel (O).

For writing the formula

1. The central metal is listed first

2. Then the ligands are listed in alphabetical order (irrespective of the charge)

3. Polydentate ligands are also listed alphabetically and if these ligands are represented by abbreviations like en,
OX, acac the first letter of the abbreviated name will determine the alphabetical order.

4. The formula of the entire complex or complex ion is enclosed in square brackets. When the ligands are
polyatomic their formulae are enclosed in brackets. Ligand abbreviations are also in brackets.

5. No space between the ligand and the metal within the co-ordination sphere while writing the formula.
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Examples:

1. K 4  Fe  CN 6  Potassium hexacyano ferrate (II)

2. Co  NH 3 6  Cl3 hexaammine cobalt (II) chloride
3.  Zn  NCS 4 
2 tetra isothiocyanato zincate (II) ion

4. Li  Al H 4  Lithium tetrahydrido aluminate (III)

5. Cr  en 3  Cl3 tris (1,2 diamino -ethane) chromium (III) chloride
6.  Pt  NH 3 4  Cl 2 
2 tetraammine dichlorido platinum (II) ion

7.  Ru  en 2  Cl 2  bis (ethane 1,2 diamine) dichlorido ruthenium (II)

8. Co  en 2  OX  
 bis (ethane 1,2 diamine) oxalato cobalt (III) ion

9.  Rh  CO 2  I 2  dicarbonyl diiodido rhodium (II)

10.  Pt  OH 2 2  Cl 2  diaqua dichlorido platinum (II)
11. Cr  NH 3 2  NCS 4 
 diammine tetra isothiocyanato chromate (III)

12.  Mn  Br  CO 5  bromido penta carbonyl manganese (I)

13.  RhCl  PPh 3  chloride tris (triphenyl phosphine) rhodium (I)
14. Co  Cl  en 2  NO2  
 chlorido bis (ethane 1,2 diamine) N-nitrito cobalt
(III) ion
15.  Ni  CO 4  tetra carbonyl nickel (O)
16. K 2  Zn  OH 4  potassium tetrahydroxozincate (II)
17.  Pt  NH 3 2 Cl  NO2   diammine chlorido N-nitrito platinum (II)
18.  Pt  NH 3 4   PtCl4  tetraammine platinum (II) tetrachlorido palatinate
(II)
19. Co  edta  
 ethane 1,2 diamine tetracetato cobaltate (III) ion

20.  HgI 4 2  tetraiodido mercurate (II) ion

21. Ag2  PtCl4  silver tetrochlorido platinate (II)
22. Co  gly 3  triglycinato cobalt (III)
23.  Pt  Py4    PtCl4  tetrapyridine platinum (II) tetra chlorido platinate
(II)
24. OH bis(pentaamine)   hydroxo chromium (III)
5+
chloride
(H3N) 5 Cr Cr (NH 3)5 (Cl) 5
25. NH2 tetrakis (ethylene diamino)   amido  hydroxo
dicobalt (III) Sulphate
(en) 2 Co Co(en) 2 (SO 4)2
OH
26.  Ru  pph3 3  Br tris (triphenye phosphine) ruthenium (I) bromide
27. Cr  NH 3 4  H 2O  Cl  Cl2 tetraamine aqua chloride chromium (III) chloride
28.  Fe  CO 5  Penta carbonyl iron (O)
29.  Re2 Cl8 2 octachlorido dirhenate (III)
30.  H 3 N 5 Cr  O  Cr  NH 3 5   oxo bis (pentaamine) chromium (III)