Atoms Outside of Coordination Sphere

[Jillian Labador 3E]

Hi! Would the atoms that are outside the coordination sphere be bonded to a ligand or just be free-floating around the coordination compound? For instance, in the coordination compound [Co(NH3)5SO4]Cl, would the chlorine atom be bonded to one of the ligands or just be present around the compound?

[Simrah_Ahmed1J]

I believe theres always the cation in the coordination compound and the atoms outside of the bracket are the anions and/or the hydrates, so in that case they make a salt and they are ionically bonded. Because they are ionically bonded, they have completely transferred their electrons.