Coordination Number

[rachelle1K]

How can I determine the coordination number without drawing the Lewis Structure?

[Ryan Chang 1C]

You can attempt to visualize the molecule, but your safest bet is drawing the lewis structure every time. For example, you can infer that CH4 has a coordination number of 4 since the 4 hydrogens are attached to the central atom Carbon.

[605208780]

Your best bet is to identify the central atom in the chemical formula (usually a transition metal) and then adding the number of atoms of the nearest atom/molecule/ions connected to it

[Leila_4G]

So, just to be clear, the coordination number is always the same as the areas of high electron population, right?

[Vincent Leong 2B]

just count the number of things around the transition metal complex. Lone pairs count towards coordination numbers but there are never lone pairs around the transition metal complex (at least as far as I've seen). So your best bet will be to ask: "how many atoms are bonded to the transition metal?" and that'll give you your coordination number

[Kristina Rizo 2K]

just count the number of things around the transition metal complex. Lone pairs count towards coordination numbers but there are never lone pairs around the transition metal complex (at least as far as I've seen). So your best bet will be to ask: "how many atoms are bonded to the transition metal?" and that'll give you your coordination number

so the coordination numbers are the total number of ligands bonded to the central atom?

[Caroline Zepecki]

Pretty much the number of bonds that the coordination compounds has formed is the coordination number.