Coordination Chemistry Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to coordination chemistry, including definitions and explanations of important terms.

Coordination Compound

A compound where ions or molecules called ligands bond to a central metal ion.

Ligand

An ion or molecule that donates a pair of electrons to a metal ion in a coordination complex.

Dative Bond

A bond formed when a ligand donates a pair of electrons to a metal atom or ion.

Primary Coordination Sphere

The region around the metal ion that contains the ligands directly bonded to it.

Secondary Coordination Sphere

The region around the metal ion that contains the counter ions needed to balance the charge of the complex.

Monodentate Ligand

A ligand that can bond to a metal ion through a single atom.

Bidentate Ligand

A ligand that can bond to a metal ion through two atoms.

Polydentate Ligand

A ligand that can bond to a metal ion through multiple atoms.

Crystal Field Theory

A model that describes the electronic structure and properties of coordination compounds based on the interaction between metal ions and ligands.

High Spin Complex

A complex where electrons are unpaired in d-orbitals due to low ligand field strength.

Low Spin Complex

A complex where electrons are paired in d-orbitals due to high ligand field strength.

Octahedral Geometry

A spatial arrangement in which six ligands are positioned symmetrically around a central metal ion.

Tetrahedral Geometry

A spatial arrangement in which four ligands are positioned at the corners of a tetrahedron around a central metal ion.

Facial Isomerism

A type of geometric isomerism in octahedral complexes where three identical ligands occupy one face of the octahedron.

Meridional Isomerism

A type of geometric isomerism in octahedral complexes where three identical ligands occupy adjacent corners.

Optical Isomers

Isomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other, also known as enantiomers.

Ligand Field Strength

A measure of the ability of a ligand to split the d-orbital energies in a transition metal complex.

Electronic Absorption

The process in which a molecule absorbs light, leading to an electron transition from a lower to a higher energy state.