Question detail
Which of the following complex ions has a coordination number of 2?
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. [Cu(NH3)2]2+
- B. [Fe(CN)6]4-
- C. [CoCl4]2-
- D. [Ag(NH3)2]+
Answer
[Ag(NH3)2]+
Explanation
The complex ion [Ag(NH3)2]+ has a coordination number of 2 because it has two ammonia ligands coordinated to the silver ion.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Coordination Number
Students often confuse the coordination number with the number of ligands attached to the central metal ion, thinking they are the same.
The coordination number refers to the total number of coordinate bonds formed between the central metal ion and the ligands, which may not always equal the number of ligands due to bidentate or polydentate ligands. To clarify, remember that each ligand can form multiple bonds. For example, in a complex with two bidentate ligands, the coordination number would be 4, even though there are only 2 ligands.
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