Complex Ion Terminology

Ligands can be classified according to the number of bonding sites that are available for forming a coordinate covalent bond to the metal ion. A coordinate covalent bond is one in which the shared 

TABLE 5.3 Examples of Reactions between Metal Ions and Ligands to Form Complex Ions 

FIGURE 5.16 The electron dot structure of a nitrogen atom (left) and an ammonia molecule (right). The pair of electrons above the nitrogen is the nonbonding pair available for coordinate covalent bonding. 

FIGURE 5.17 Two bidentate ligands (a) 1,10 phenanthroline, and (b) ethylenediamine. The arrows point out the bonding sites. 

Pamela Slavings of the Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan, performs the metal analysis required following the removal of metals with chelating agents. 

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