Why do transition metal cations form complexes?

[Darren Nguyen 1F]

What about them makes them special?

[Angela Patel 2J]

They form complexes because they can accept multiple electron pairs from ligands. This is because of their partially-filled d subshells.

[haileyramsey-1c]

Unlike other species, transition metal ions have an empty valence shell orbitals allowing them to accept a pair of electrons. They can also form different complexes as transition metals often have multiple oxidation states.