Coordination compounds are complex molecules consisting of a central metal atom or ion bonded to surrounding molecules or anions, called ligands. These compounds exhibit unique chemical and physical properties due to the interactions between the central metal and its ligands.
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Coordination number refers to the number of ligand donor atoms bonded to the central metal ion.
Ligands can be monodentate, bidentate, or polydentate depending on the number of donor atoms they have.
The geometry of coordination compounds can be tetrahedral, square planar, or octahedral based on the coordination number and nature of ligands.
Crystal Field Theory explains the electronic structure and color properties of coordination compounds by considering the effect of ligand fields on d-orbitals.
Chelation is a process where polydentate ligands form multiple bonds with a single metal ion, increasing stability.
Review Questions
What is the role of ligands in coordination compounds?
How does Crystal Field Theory explain the color properties of coordination compounds?
Define chelation and explain its significance in terms of stability.