Coordination

compounds
The green colour of leaves is due to the
presence of green pigment chlorophyll in
them. Structure of chlorophyll.

Mg atom is bonded in the centre to form this

complex
Haemoglobin is the red pigment in red blood
cells and carries oxygen throughout the body.
Structure of haemoglobin.

The central metal present in haemoglobin is

iron which is bonded to nitrogen atoms to
form this complex.
Haemoglobin and chlorophyll are
coordination compounds.

Let us learn more about the chemistry of

coordination compounds
Coordination compounds
 Cobaltis the central metal ion, which is
linked with 6 ammonia molecules by the
coordinate bonds.

 Coordination compounds are also called

complexes.
Coordination compounds vs
Double salts
 Both double salts as well as coordination compounds
are formed by the combination of two or more salts
in stoichiometric ratio but they differ in their
ionisation behaviour in aqueous solutions.
 Double salts dissociate into its constituent ions
completely when dissolved in water.

 Hence, we find that a double salt loses its identity in

the solution.
 Coordination compounds retain their identity
in solid state as well as in aqueous solution.

 Ferrocyanide ion is a complex ion is retain its

identity.
 It does not dissociate into Fe2+ ans CN- ion.
Types of coordination compounds
 On the basis the nature of charge.

 (1)Cation complex:- the complex ion which

carries a net positive charge. [Ni(NH3)6]2+

 (2)Anion complex:- the complex ion which

carries a net negative charge. [Fe(CN)6]4-

 (3)Neutral complex:- the complex that

carries no charge. [Ni(CO)4]
Important
terms
pertaining to
coordination
compounds
 Coordination entity
 Itcomprises of a central metal atom or ion
bonded to a fixed number of ions or
molecules.

 Example :- [PtCl2(NH3)2] is a coordination

entity.
 Central atom/ion
 The atom or ion in a coordination entity to which
a fixed number of ions or groups are bound in a
definite geometry arrangement around it.
 Ligands
 Theions or the molecules bonded to the
central metal atom or ion.
 Donate a pair of electrons to the metal atom
or ion and form a coordinate bond with it.
Depending upon the number of
coordination sites ligands are
classified as;
 Monodentate ligands
 Theyhave only one donor atom and can
form only one coordinate bond with the
central metal atom or ion.
 Examples
 Bidentate ligands
 They have two donor atoms and can form
two coordinate bonds with the central atom
or ion.
 Polydentate ligands
 They have two or more donor atoms.
 Example:- ethylenediaminetetraacetate
 Chelates
 When a polydentate ligand attaches itself to a
central metal ion through two or more donor
atoms it forms a five or six membered ring with
the central metal ion.
 These ligands are called chelates or chelating
ligands and ring thus formed is called a chelate.
 The formation of cyclic complex compounds
with polydentate ligands and metal ions is
called chelation.
 Examples:- ethylenediamine, oxalate ion,
EDTA etc.
 The chelates have enhanced stability because
of the reduced strain in five or six membered
rings.
Ambidentate ligands
 Ligands which can ligate through two different
atoms.
 Coordination number
 Number of coordinate bonds formed with the
central metal atom or ion by the ligands.
 example:- [PtCl6]2-
 Six monodentate ligands (chloride ions) are
coordinated to the central platinum metal.
 Coordination number = 6
 Example:- [Co(en)3]3+
 Coordination number = 6
 The ligand present in this complex is
ethylenediammine which is a bidentate
ligand. So that coordination number is 6.
 Coordination sphere
 Consistsof central metal atom or ion and
ligands bonded to it.
 Enclosed in a square bracket.
 The ionisable groups/atoms are written
outside the bracket and are called counter
ions.
 Coordination polyherdron
 Thespatial arrangement of the ligand which are
directly attached to the central atom or ion.
 Oxidation number
 The charge that the central atom in a
complex would carry when all the ligands are
removed along with the electron pairs that
are shared with the central atom.
 Itis represented by Roman numbers, I, II, III,
IV etc., in the parentheses after the name of
the central atom.
 Example:- [Co(NH3)6]3+
Co(III)
Homoleptic and hetroleotic
complexs
Nomenclature
Naming the complex
Writing formula of a mononuclear
complex from its IUPAC name
Isomerism
Ionisation isomerism
Hydration isomerism
Linkage isomerism
Coordination compounds
Stereoisomerism
Optical isomerism
 Werner Theory
 Werner concluded that metals in coordination
compounds metals possess two types of
valencies.
 Primary valency:- the number of negative
ions needed to satisfy the charge on the
complex ion. Also referred to as oxidation
state.
 Secondary valency:- the number of ions or
molecules coordinated to the metal ion. Also
referred to as coordination number.
Complexes formed from CoCl3 and NH3
Limitations of Werner’s Theory
Valence Bond Theory
Crystal Field Theory
Crystal Field Theory for Octahedral
Complexes
Crystal Field Theory for Tetrahedral
Complexes
Colour in coordination compounds
Metal carbonyls
Bonding in Metals Carbonyls
General Characteristics of Metal
Carbonyls
Stability of Coordination
Compounds
Factors affecting the stability
of complex ions