Consider the following statements regarding transition metal complexes and coordination compounds: 1. Ligands act as Lewis bases by donating electron pairs to the central metal ion. 2. The coordination number of a metal ion in a complex is determined by the total number of sigma bonds formed between ligands and the central metal atom. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Ligands possess lone pairs of electrons which they coordinate to vacant orbitals of central transition metal ions, thus functioning as Lewis bases in coordination chemistry. The coordination number represents the total number of ligand donor atoms directly attached to the central metal ion through coordinate sigma bonds. Transition metals frequently exhibit variable oxidation states and catalytic properties. Werner coordination theory laid the foundation for understanding complex structures.