Nomenclature of coordination

compounds
 Rules of nomenclature:
1. Name of cation first
2. Name of ligand
I. If more then one type ligand present then write in
alphabetical order
II. If more then one same type of ligands present then use
mono, di etc as prefix
III. In case of bivalent ligand, use bis, tris etc as prefix and write
ligand name in small bracket after prefix
3. Name of central atom (check charge on coordination
entity)
4. Oxidation of centratol atom in roman, in small bracket

CaCl₂ Calcium chloride

K₃[Al(C₂O₄)₃] potassium trioxilatoaluminate(iii)

 Anion Ligands (e of ite/ ate/ ide replaced by O

F- Fluoro NH2- Amido

OH- Hydroxo CO₃⁻² Carbonato

Cl- Chloro S₂O₃⁻² Thiosulphato

SO42- Sulfato NO₃⁻ Nitrato

Br- Bromo O₂⁻² Peroxo

S2O32- Thiosulfato CH₃COO⁻ Acetato
I- Iodo O2- Oxo

NO2- Nitrito- NCS- Isothiocyanato

CN⁻ Cyano S⁻² Sulphido

N⁻³ Nitrido N₃⁻ Azido

Neutral Ligand
H₂O Aqua
NO Nitrosyl
NH₃ Amine
CO Carboxy
En Ethylene diammine
PPh₃ Triphenylphosphene

Cationic Ligand Add “ium”

NO⁺ Nitrosonium
NO₂⁺ Nitronium
NH₄⁺ Ammonium
NH₂-NH₃⁺ Hydrazinium
Metal +Charge on metal -Charge on metal
complex complex (add “ate”)
Fe Iron Ferrate
Au Gold Aurrate
Pb Lead Plunbate
Cu Cupper Cuperate
Sn Tin Stannate
Ag Silver Argentate
In case of more then 1 ligand
Monovalent ligands Bivalent ligands (ligand name)
No of prefix No of prefix
ligands ligands
2 Di 2 Bis
3 Tri 3 Tris
4 Terta 4 Tertakis
5 Penta 5 Pentakis
6 Hexa 6 Hexakis
7 Hepta 7 Heptakis