Class XII
Common ligands with IUPAC name
Monondendate ligands (Anion) (IUPAC name of negatively charged ligands end
with “O”
IUPAC NAME FORMULA
Hydrido -H
Chloro -Cl
nitrido N3-
Azido N3-
Oxido O2-
Cyano CN-
Thiocyanoto-s -SCN-
Thiocyanato-N NCS-
Hydroxo OH-
Nitrito – N NO2-
Nitrito – O ONO-
Monodendate ligands (neutral)
IUPAC name formula
Methyisocyanide CH3NC
Aqua H2O
Carbonyl CO
Pyridine (Py) C5H5N
Ammine NH3
Polydendate ligands
Chelating points name abbreviation
Bidendate 1,2-ethanediamine en
Oxalate ion Ox
Bipyridyl bipy
Acetylacetone acac
Tridendate Diethylenetriamine dien
Tetradendate Triethylenetetramine trien
Hexadendate Ethylenediamine EDTA
tetra acetate
Rules for writing the formula of the coordination compound:
• Central metal atom: Write the symbol of the central metal atom first.
• Ligands: Write the ligands in alphabetical order, with anion ligands before
neutral ligands. If there are multiple ligands of the same type, arrange them
alphabetically.
• Square brackets: Enclose the entire coordination compound formula in
square brackets.
• No spaces: There should be no space between the ligands and the metal
within the coordination sphere.
• Subscripts: Denote the number of ligands attached to the central metal ion as
subscripts after the brackets of ligands.
• Charge: The charge of the coordination sphere is written on the right-hand
side, outside of the square bracket, as a subscript.
• Polyatomic ligands: Enclose polyatomic ligands in parentheses.
• Cation and anion: The formula of the cation should be written first, followed
by the anion. The total positive charge should be equal to the total negative
charge.
Rules for writing the name of the coordination compound:
• ligands: Ligands are named before the central metal ion. Anions come
before neutral ligands, and ligands are written in alphabetical order if there
are multiple ligands.
• Metal: The metal's formal name and oxidation state are used to name the
metal. Roman numerals in parentheses indicate the oxidation state.
• Overall charge: If the complex has an overall charge, "ion" is written after
it.
• Anions: Anions' names should end with "o".
• Central metal atom: The Latin name of the central metal atom is preferred,
with the exception of mercury.
• Neutral ligands: Some neutral ligands have specific names, such as H2O
(aqua), NO (nitrosyl), NH3 (amine), and CO(carbonyl).
• Counter ion: If the coordination compound has a counter ion, the anionic
entity should be written after the cationic entity.
• Prefixes: Prefixes like tetra-, tri-, and di- are used when there are several
monodentate ligands. Prefixes like tris- and bis- are used when the central
metal ion has several polydentate ligands.
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