Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature

In most main group element compounds, the valence electrons of the isolated atoms combine to form chemical bonds that satisfy the octet rule. For instance, the four valence electrons of carbon overlap with electrons from four hydrogen atoms to form CH₄. The one valence electron leaves sodium and adds to the seven valence electrons of ...

Coordination compounds are neutral species consisting of either a neutral complex or charged complex ions and oppositely-charged counter ions. The complex ion is a central metal ion bound to molecules or ions, known as ligands.

Ligands are compounds with one or more electron pairs. They act as Lewis bases by donating a pair of electrons t...