Question

Define coordination number.

Hint:

Coordination number depends on the number of donor atoms, not on the charge of ligands or metal ion.

Answer 1

Step 1: Ligands donate one or more lone pairs of electrons to the central metal atom through coordinate bonds.
Step 2: The total count of donor atoms attached to the metal determines the coordination number.
Step 3: For example, in \([\text{Co(NH}_3)_6]^{3+}\), six ammonia molecules donate lone pairs to cobalt, so the coordination number is 6.