Transition Metal Coordination Complexes Nomenclature and Formulas

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering the names of neutral, charged, polydentate, and ambidentate ligands, prefix rules, metal naming conventions for anions, and coordination complex formula rules.

$$H_2O$$

aqua

$$NH_3$$

ammine (note the double 'm')

$$CO$$

carbonyl

$$CH_3NH_2$$

methylamine

$$NO$$

nitrosyl

$$C_5H_5N$$

pyridine

$$F^-$$

fluoro

$$Cl^-$$

chloro

$$Br^-$$

bromo

$$I^-$$

iodo

$$O^{2-}$$

oxo

$$OH^-$$

hydroxo

$$CN^-$$

cyano

$$SO_4^{2-}$$

sulfato

$$S_2O_3^{2-}$$

thiosulfato

Ambidentate Ligands

Ligands that can bind at different atoms, such as $NO_2^-$, $ONO^-$, $SCN^-$, and $NCS^-$.

$$NO_2^-$$

nitrito-N- (or nitro)

$$ONO^-$$

nitrito-O- (or nitrito)

$$SCN^-$$

thiocyanato-S- (or thiocyanato)

$$NCS^-$$

thiocyanato-N- (or isothiocyanato)

$NH_2CH_2CH_2NH_2$ (en)

ethylenediamine

$C_2O_4^{2-}$ (ox)

oxalato

$C_{10}H_{16}N_2O_8^{4-}$ (EDTA)

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

$(NH_2CH_2CH_2)_2NH$ (dien)

diethylenetriamine

The name used for Copper when the coordination complex has an overall negative charge.

Cuprate

The name used for Gold when the coordination complex has an overall negative charge.

Aurate

The name used for Iron when the coordination complex has an overall negative charge.

Ferrate

The name used for Lead when the coordination complex has an overall negative charge.

Plumbate

The name used for Tin when the coordination complex has an overall negative charge.

Stannate

The name used for Silver when the coordination complex has an overall negative charge.

Argentate

Complex Naming Sequence

Within a complex ion, name the ligands before listing the metal cation.

Modified Ligand Endings

Original anion endings are changed: "-ide" becomes "-o", "-ite" becomes "-ito", and "-ate" becomes "-ato".

Metal Oxidation State

Indicated with a Roman numeral in parentheses immediately following the metal's name.

Coordination Sphere

The entire transition metal complex ion, enclosed inside square brackets [ ] in a chemical formula.

Ligand Ordering in Formulas

Ligands are listed directly after the metal in alphabetical order by their structural name.