Ox vs. Coordination Number

[claire smith]

Several textbook problems ask for the either an oxidation or coordination number - can someone explain the difference? How do you begin finding either?

[405669838]

Coordination number is how many ligands are attached to the metal element, while oxidation number is the charge of the element. Hope that helps!

[emily3L]

oxidation number = the charge of an individual atom
coordination number = how many atoms / molecules / ions bonded to a central atom

[Arad_Badiee_2B]

Here's an example that might help. For instance, Na+ has an oxidation number of +1, while in something like CH4, Carbon would have a coordination number of 4 because it has 4 hydrogen atoms attached to it.

[Gianna Sciole 2F]

the oxidation number is the charge assigned to the trans ion metal when it’s in the coordination compound. the coordination number is how many ligands are attached to the transition metal. hope this helped!

[Phoebe Ko 3E]

The comments above explained the concepts really well! Just to add on, remember to not confuse between oxidation number and coordination number when determining these numbers for a coordination compound with an ion attached to the atoms inside the bracket. Coordination number can be determined through the atoms inside the bracket, but oxidation number must be determined through both the ions outside and the atoms inside. For example, K3[CoF6] has a coordination number of 6 because there are 6 floro ligands bonded to the central mental atom Co. Its oxidation number, however, would be +3 to account for the +3 charges of the K3 and -6 charges of the F6. I hope this was helpful!

[105691548]

Coordination number is the number of ligands attached to the central metal of a certain coordination compound whereas oxidation number is the charge of the central atom if we were to remove all the ligands and electron pairs surrounding it.

[Caitlin Gee 2K]

The oxidation number is the charge of the atom, there are specific rules to finding the oxidation numbers of atoms in compounds, which you can find in the textbook or online. The coordination number is how many ligands are bonded to the central metal.

[Nithya Narapa Reddy]

An oxidation number refers to the charge of an atom. In comparison, a coordination number refers to the number of ligands that are bonded to the central atom.

[Ally Mosher]

This can be confusing.

The achieve Week 9 homework helped me with this...
Q2 has both types of problems.


However overall,
The coordination number is how many ligands are attached to a metal.
Oxidation State is the charge of the molecule/atom.

Hope this helps.

[Trisha Badjatia 2L]

Like what other folks said, the oxidation number is the charge of an atom in a molecule if all the ligands and lone pairs were removed. The coordination number is the number of ligands in a coordinate complex that are attached to the central atom. An oxidation number can have a sign (+ or -) but a coordination number has no sign. Also, an oxidation number is only for that one atom, while a coordination number applies to the whole complex.

[Matt Vargo 2D]

The coordination number is the number of ligands bonded to the central atom in a complex or coordination compound. The oxidation number is the charge of an atom when all of its ligands and shared electron pairs are removed.

[Muryam_Hasan_2I]

Oxidation number is the charge of a specific atom or molecule, while coordination number is the number of ligands bonded to the central metal ion. For oxidation number, you add all of the known charges in the compound and compare that to its overall charge. The oxidation number of the atom should be whichever number makes all of the charges in a compound combined equal to the compound’s overall charge. For coordination number, you have to determine how many ligands there are in a complex and if any are polydentate. If a ligand is polydentate, then the number of bonds formed with the central metal ion is more than one and the ligand should add however many bonds it forms to the overall coordination number.

[405716590]

Coordination number is how many ligands bond to the central atom

[Kaitlyn_Urquilla_1I]

Hi! An oxidation number is the charge on the atom while a coordination number is the number of ligands bonded to the transition metal in a coordination compound.

[Evonne Chau 2I]

Hi Claire,

When it's asking for the oxidation number, it's asking for the charge or that atom (-1, +1, etc.). When it's asking for the coordination number, it's asking how many ligands are bound to the central atom.

[trevina_brown_2A]

Coordination number is how many ligands are attached to the metal element and oxidation number is the charge of the element.

[masontsang]

Hi! The coordination number is the number of ligands are bonded to the central atom of a coordination compound while the oxidation number refers to the charge of the atom within the molecule/compound. I hope this helps!