Coordination number
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Coordination number
Can someone just briefly explain to me what the coordination number is and how to find it?
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Re: Coordination number
The number of atoms attached to the central atom, this does not include lone pairs. double bonds and triple bonds only count as 1 for example
SO2 coordination number=2
SO2 coordination number=2
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Re: Coordination number
As stated above, the coordination number indicates the number of atoms that surround the central atom. To add to that answer, these 'non-central' atoms are called ligands
Re: Coordination number
Just to add, coordination number typically applies to compounds with a transition metal as the central atom, so it isn't likely that you would encounter a double or triple bond in the first place.
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Re: Coordination number
While I understand that the coordination number denotes the number of ligands attached to a central atom, what importance does this serve to discover any further aspects of the molecule involved?
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Re: Coordination number
the number of atoms or ions immediately surrounding a central atom in a complex or crystal.
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Re: Coordination number
Jocelyn Fermin1J wrote:The number of atoms attached to the central atom, this does not include lone pairs. double bonds and triple bonds only count as 1 for example
SO2 coordination number=2
Like Jocelyn said, it does not include lone pairs. On a related note, though, the steric number include the number of atoms bonded plus the number of lone pairs on a central atom. This number is useful in VSEPR to determine the electron arrangement.
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Re: Coordination number
Jennifer Lathrop 3E wrote:Can the term coordination number apply to all molecules? or only some?
I’m pretty sure a coordination number can only apple to coordination compound, which is the product of a Lewis acid-base reaction in which neutral molecules or anions (called ligands) bond to a central metal atom (or ion) by coordinate covalent bonds.
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Re: Coordination number
Hi! The coordination number is just the number of atoms attached to the central atom. However as someone stated, don't count lone pairs.
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