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Complexes
Coordination complexes have their own classes of isomers, different magnetic properties andcolors, and various
applications (photography, cancer treatment, etc), so it makes sense that they would have a naming system as well.
Consisting of a metal and ligands, their formulas follow the pattern [Metal Anions Neutrals] Charge, while names are
written Prefix Ligands Metal(Oxidation State).
Introduction
According to the Lewis base theory, ligands are Lewis bases since they can donate electrons to the central metal
atom. The metals, in turn, are Lewis acids since they accept electrons. Coordination complexes consist of a ligand
and a metal center cation. The overall charge can be positive, negative, or neutral. Coordination compounds are
complex or contain complex ions, for example:
Fluoro
OH-
Hydroxo
Cl-
Chloro
SO42-
Sulfato
Br-
Bromo
S2O32-
Thiosulfato
I-
Iodo
NO2-
Nitrito-N-; Nitro
O2-
Oxo
ONO-
Nitrito-O-; Nitrito
CN-
Cyano
SCN-
Thiocyanato-S-; Thiocyanato
NC-
Isocyano
NCS-
Thiocyanato-N-; Isothiocyanato
2. Most neutral molecules that are ligands carry their normal name. The few exceptions are the first four on the chart:
ammine, aqua, carbonyl, and nitrosyl.
Ammine
H2O
Aqua
CO
Carbonyl
NO
Nitrosyl
CH3NH2
Methylamine
C5H5N
Pyridine
(Note: Ammine is spelled with two m's when referring to a ligand. Amines are something else.)
Polydentate ligands follow the same rules for anions and neutral molecules.
en
Ethylenediamine
ox2-
Oxalato
EDTA4-
Ethylenediaminetetraacetato
3. The number of ligands present in the complex is indicated with the prefixes di, tri, etc. The exceptions are
polydentates that have a prefix already in their name (en and EDTA4- are the most common). When indicating how
many of these are present in a coordination complex, put the ligand's name in parentheses and use bis, tris,
and tetrakis.
Normal
Polydentates
mono
di
bis
tri
tris
tetra
tetrakis
penta
hexa
Example 1
What is the name oft his complex ion: [CrCl2(H2O)4]+ ?
SOLUTION
Let's start by identifying the ligands. The ligands here are Cl and H 2O. Therefore, we will use the monodentate ligand names of "chloro" and "aqu
Alphabetically, aqua comes before chloro, so this will be their order in the complex's name. There are 4 aqua's and 2 chloro's, so we will add t
number prefixes before the names. Since both are monodentate ligands, we will say "tetra[aqua]di[chloro]". Now that the ligands are named, we w
name the metal itself. The metal is Cr, which is chromium. Therefore, this coordination complex is called tetraaquadichlorochromium(III) ion. <-S
the next section for an explanation of the (III).
Prefixes always go before the ligand name; they are not taken into account when putting ligands in alphabetical order.
Note
that
"mono"
often
is
not
used.
For
example,
[FeCl(CO)2(NH3)3]2+ would
be
called
triamminechlorodicarbonyliron(III) ion. Remember that ligands are always named first, before the metal is.
Example 2
What is the name oft his complex ion: [CoCl2(en)2]+?
SOLUTION
We take the same approach. There are two chloro and ethylenediamine ligands. The metal is Co, cobalt. We follow the same steps, except that en is a
polydentate ligand with a prefix in its name (ethylenediamine), so "bis" is used instead of "bi", and parentheses are added. Therefore, this coordination
complex is called dichlorobis(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) ion.
Transition Metal
Latin
Iron
Ferrate
Copper
Cuprate
Tin
Stannate
Silver
Argentate
Lead
Plumbate
Gold
Aurate
The rest of the metals simply have -ate added to the end (cobaltate, nickelate, zincate, osmate, cadmate, platinate,
mercurate, etc. Note that the -ate tends to replace -um or -ium, if present).
Finally, when a complex has an overall charge, "ion" is written after it. This is not necessary if it is neutral or part of a
coordination compound (see EX 3). Here are some examples with determining oxidation states, naming a metal in an
anion complex, and naming coordination compounds.
Example 3
What is the name of [Cr(OH)4]- ?
SOLUTION
Immediately we know that this complex is an anion. There is only one monodentate ligand, hydroxide. There are four of them, so we will use the
name "tetrahydroxo". The metal is chromium, but since the complex is an anion, we will have to use the "-ate" ending, yielding "chromate". The
oxidation state of the metal is 3 (hint: x+(-1)4=-1). Write this with Roman numerals and parentheses (III) and place it after the metal to get
tetrahydroxochromate(III) ion.
Example 4
What is the name of [CuCl4]2- ?
SOLUTION
If you got tetrachlorocuprate(II) ion, you are correct.
A last little side note: when naming a coordination compound, it is important that you name the cation first, then the
anion. You base this on the charge of the ligand. Think of NaCl. Na, the positive cation, comes first and Cl, the
negative anion, follows.
Examples 5
What is the name of [Pt(NH3)4)][Pt(Cl)4] ?
SOLUTION
NH3 is neutral, making the first complex positively charged overall. Cl has a -1 charge, making the second complex the anion. Therefore, you w
write the complex with NH3 first, followed by the one with Cl (the same order as the formula). This coordination compound is calle
tetraammineplatinum(II) tetrachloroplatinate(II).
Distinguishing between linkage isomers:
Examples 6
What is the name of [CoCl(NO2)(NH3)4]+ ?
SOLUTION
This coordination complex is called tetraamminechloronitrito-N-cobalt(III). N comes before the O in the symbol for the nitrite ligand, so it is calle
nitrito-N. If an O came first, as in [CoCl(ONO)(NH3)4]+, the ligand would be called nitrito-O, yielding the name tetraamminechloronitrito-O
cobalt(III). Nitro (for NO2) and nitrito (for ONO) can also be used to describe the nitrite ligand, yielding the names tetraamminechloronitrocobalt(II
and tetraamminechloronitritocobalt(III).
In a coordination compound's name, when one of the ions is just an element, the number of atoms is not indicated
with a prefix. Since it still has to be written in the formula, it is determined by balancing the overall charge of the
compound. (For example, tetrafluorochromium(VI) chloride becomes [CrF4]Cl2. See EX4 for practice.)
Here are some examples:
Examples
EX1: Amminetetraaquachromium(II) ion would be written as [Cr(H 2O)4(NH3)]+2. Both ligands are neutral, so they are ordered
alphabetically with H2O before NH3. (Their order in the formula is the opposite of that in the complex's name since one uses their
chemical symbols and the other uses the names of the ligands.)
EX2: Amminesulfatochromium(II) is written as [Cr(SO4)(NH3)]. SO4 is an anion, so it comes before NH3.
EX3: Amminetetraaquachromium(II) sulfate -> Try this on your own. Did you get [Cr(H2O)4(NH3)]SO4? If you did, you are correct.
EX4: Potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) -> Try this on your own. Did you get K3[Fe(CN)6]? Remember to balance the K!