Question detail
What type of bond is formed between a ligand and a transition metal in a complex ion?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Transition metals (A-level only)
Question
- A. Ionic bond
- B. Covalent bond
- C. Coordinate bond
- D. Hydrogen bond
Answer
Coordinate bond
Explanation
A coordinate bond is formed when a ligand donates a pair of electrons to the transition metal ion, creating a complex ion.
Common mistake
Misidentifying Complex Shapes
Students often confuse the geometry of octahedral and tetrahedral complexes, mistakenly describing tetrahedral complexes as octahedral due to the number of ligands.
To fix this, remember that octahedral complexes have six ligands arranged around the central metal ion, while tetrahedral complexes have four ligands. Visualize the shapes: octahedral complexes resemble two pyramids base-to-base, while tetrahedral complexes form a three-dimensional triangle. Always relate the number of ligands to the geometry.
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