coordination number
The term "coordination number" is crucial in understanding the structure and properties of molecules, complexes, and crystal lattices.
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Definition
C1Chemistry
(technical, academic)The number of atoms, ions, or molecules directly bonded to a central atom or ion in a molecule or complex.
Example
- In a coordination compound, the coordination number of the central metal ion determines the geometry of the complex.
- The coordination number of the central atom in this molecule is six.
C1Crystallography
(technical, academic)The number of nearest neighboring atoms to a particular atom in a crystal lattice.
Example
- In a body-centered cubic crystal structure, each atom has a coordination number of eight.
- The coordination number can influence the stability and properties of the crystal.
C1Graph Theory
(technical, academic)The number of edges incident to a vertex in a graph.
Example
- In this graph, the vertex has a coordination number of three, meaning it is connected to three other vertices.
- The coordination number helps in analyzing the connectivity of the graph.