Coordination Number

[Karina Rodriguez 2H]

Can anyone explain what a coordination number is and what it is important for figuring out?

[Rich Luong 1D]

In a coordination compound, the coordination number is the number of bonds attached to the central metal atom. It's important to know the number to help us determine the shape of the overall coordination compound. For example, if a coordination compound has a coordination number of 6, we can predict it to be a octahedral complex. I hope this helps!

[Armen_Isayan_2L]

Hello! A coordination number is described by the number of atoms or ions that the central atom is bonded to. It is important to figure out because it allows to determine the name of the coordination complex.

[Danielle Goldwirth 3F]

From our textbook:

"Each ligand in a complex typically has at least one lone pair of electrons with which it bonds to the central atom or ion by forming a coordinate covalent bond. The ligands are said to coordinate to the metal when they form the complex in this way. These ligands make up the coordination sphere of the central ion. The number of points at which ligands are attached to the central metal atom is called the coordination number of the complex (FIG. 9C.1). The coordination number is 4 in Ni ( CO ) 4 and 6 in [ Fe ( CN ) 6 ] 4 − ."

Basically, the coordination number is the number of coordinate covalent bonds attached to the central atom.

[Nathan Lao 2I]

Coordination number is essentially the number of bonding sites that a TM will form with ligands. It's important to know the denticity of the ligands since they will affect the coordination number. For example, a bidentate ligand counts as 2 bonds, a tridentate ligand forms 3, and so on.
I'm not completely sure but I think this is important for determining/identifying the name and structure of the coordination compound.

[Justin Zhang_1A]

The coordination number is the number of bonds that are attached to the central metal atom in a complex, and it's important to know this because it helps us to figure out the name and shape of the coordination complex.

[Griffin G]

A coordination number is basically the amount of bonds the metal ion has with ligands.

[Brandon McClelland3L]

The coordination number is the number of atoms the central atom is bonded to. It is important to know in order to know what kind of coordination complex there is.

[Catie Donohue 2K]

Coordination number is essentially the number of bonding sites that a TM will form with ligands. It's important to know the denticity of the ligands since they will affect the coordination number. For example, a bidentate ligand counts as 2 bonds, a tridentate ligand forms 3, and so on.
I'm not completely sure but I think this is important for determining/identifying the name and structure of the coordination compound.

Is there a way we can know if a ligand has more than one bond or will it usually be given to us in the problem?

[Diana Aguilar 3H]

The coordination number is the number of atoms the central atom is bonded to. I believe it is important to know because it allows us to find the name and shape of the coordination complex.

[Eve Gross-Sable 1B]

The coordination number is equal to how many atoms the central atom is bonded to. You use it to determine the name of the coordination complex

[Alex Benson]

Hi! One of the reasons that the Coordination Number is importance is because it is related to the shape of the molecule.

[joshtully]

The coordination number of a metal ion is the number of bonds it has with ligands.

[Susanna Givan 2B]

The number helps us determine the shape of the structure, correct?