Name of Ligands in Coordination Compounds:

Atoms or group of atoms (in the form of ion or neutral molecules or ions) associated with central
atom by forming co-ordinate bond in a co-ordination complex are called ligands.

 Anionic ligands have names ending in 'o'. The last "e" in names of negative ions are changed to
"o". [ "-ide" -ido (e.g. chloride chlorido), "-ate" -ato (e.g. sulfate -sulfato,), and "-
ite" -ito (e.g. nirite nitrito)

Anion Name Anions Ligand Name Donor Atom

-
chloride Cl chlorido Cl
fluoride F- fluorido F
bromide Br- bromido Br  Neutral
iodide I- iodido I ligands
cyanide CN- cyano C have no
hydroxide OH- hydroxo O special
thiosulfate S2O32- thiosulfato O ending.
carbonate CO32- carbonato O and O They are
oxalate C2O42- Oxalato (ox) O and O named
acetate CH3COO- Acetato (ac) O as such
thiocyanate SCN- thiocyanato N except
isothiocyanate NCS- isothiocyanato S
some
sulfate SO42- sulfato O
few
exception.

Compound Name Anions Ligand Name Donor Atom

ethylenediamine NH2CH2CH2NH2 Ethylenediamine (en) N
dioxygen O2 dioxygen O
dinitrogen N2 dinitrogen N
pyridine C5H5N pyridine N
ammonia NH3 Ammine* N
Water H2O Aqua* O
Nitric oxide NO Nitrosyl*
Carbonmono oxide CO Carbonyl* O
*exceptions
 Positive ligands end in –ium

Anions Ligand Name Donor Atom

+
NH2 NH3 hydrazinium N
NO2+ nitrosonium O
NO+ nitrosonium O