Coordination Complexes

Abstract

In this chapter, we focus on coordination complexes. In a typical coordination complex (or simply complex), a central metal atom or ion is chemically bonded to several other components. These complexes are quite common and have many important uses. Hemoglobin and myoglobin that carry oxygen within our bodies are two important biological molecules that contain a coordination complex (the heme). Coordination complexes, such as metal ions with EDTA, are also industrially useful as chelating agents. Because transition metal complexes often exhibit several oxidation states, transition metal complexes exhibit a range of colors based on the components involved in the complex.