Coordination numbers unusual

The nature of the bonding, particularly in CO, has excited much attention because of the unusual coordination number (1) and oxidation state (-f2) of carbon it is discussed on p. 926 in connection with the formation of metal-carbonyl complexes. 

Borides, in contrast to carbides and nitrides, are characterized by an unusual structural complexity for both metal-rich and B-rich compositions. This complexity has its origin in the tendency of B atoms to form one- two-, or three-dimensional covalent arrangements and to show uncommon coordination numbers because of their large size (rg = 0.88 10 pm) and their electronic structure (deficiency in valence electrons). The structures of the transition-element borides are well established " . 

From a structural point-of-view the bulk metallic state, that is, fee lattice (with varying densities of defects such as twins and stacking faults) is generally established in gold nanoparticles of about 10 nm diameter and upwards. However, such particles still display many unusual physical properties, primarily as the result of their small size. Shrinking the size of gold particles has an important effect it increases both the relative proportion of surface atoms and of atoms of even lower coordination number, such as edge atoms [49] and these atoms in turn are relatively mobile and reactive. 

EXAFS has been used to determine the second hydration shell of zinc in aqueous solution. Aqueous solutions of zinc nitrate over a range of concentrations were examined and a Zn—O distance of 2.05 A for the first shell of the six-coordinate zinc center found, which is unaffected by concentration. The second hydration shell shows a Zn—O distance which has no systematic trend but an average distance of 4.1 A. The coordination number for the second shell is 11.6 1.6 with unusual behavior for the most concentrated 2.7 M solution, which has a decrease in coordination number to 6.8 1.5 340... 

Silenes and saturated silicon compounds that are coordinated by donors and that thus have higher coordination numbers at the silicon centres exhibit unusual reactivities [1]. An interpretation of these experimental findings is possible when the structural features of the stable model compounds [C6H4CH2N(CH3)2]2SiCl2 (1) [2], [C6H4CH2N(CH3)2]3SiH (4), and [C6H4CH2N(CH3)2]4Si (5) are considered [3]. 

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