Coordination numbers

[carterwink2K]

What exactly is a coordination number? And if I’m correct in thinking it just describes the number of bonds to the central atom, does that include lone pair electrons?

[Anish_Marripati_2F]

The number of points at which ligands are attached to the central metal atom is called the coordination number of the complex. The coordination number is just the number of atoms attached to the central atom; it does not include lone pairs.

[Alex FreeWolf 2E]

The coordination # = the number of atoms, ions, or molecules that are bonded to the central atom/ion in a complex.

for example: a tetrahedral geometry will correlate to a coordination # of 4

[Tania Peymany 1A]

To add on, if there were to be a polydentate then you would count each point that polydentate were to attach to the central atom. So if you were to have a single bidentate and then two other atoms/molecules that were monodentates that attach to the central atom, then the coordination number would be 4, not 3.

[Kiana Rogers 1E]

I was also confused on this. These are great explanations, thank you all!