Bonding in coordination complexes

  • Thread starter Thread starter MathewsMD
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bonding
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
1 reply · 3K views
MathewsMD
Messages
430
Reaction score
7
For metals like copper(I), how does it have a coordination number of 3 in some compounds like [Cu(P(C6H5)3)3]+. I've learned that these coordination bonds are formed by interacting lone pairs from ligands and empty orbitals on the central metal atom. In this case, copper has a 1+ charge and configuration of [Ar] 4s0 3d10 and I'm just slightly confused on how it would form 3 bonds...
Would new bonds just be formed between the lone pair on each phosphorous and the 3 4p orbitals from copper? What happens to the 4s orbital in this case?

If there's a method to determine the coordination number of a metal with ligands, could you please expand on that as well or refer me to any sources?

Thanks!
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
Is this question not addressed by CTF?