Coordinate Bond Examples

Here are a few examples of coordinate covalent bonds

Coordinate Bond in Ammonium Ion (NH₄⁺)

Formation of ammonium ions involves a coordinate covalent bond. In this case, the nitrogen atom in ammonia (NH₃) donates its lone pair of electrons to the hydrogen ion (H⁺). The nitrogen atom is the donor, and the hydrogen ion is the acceptor. The coordinate covalent bond is represented by an arrow pointing from the nitrogen atom to the hydrogen ion.

Coordinate Bond in Aluminum Chloride (AlCl₃)

Aluminum chloride is formed through a coordinate covalent bond between two chlorine atoms. In this case, both chlorine atoms have lone pairs of electrons, and one of these lone pairs is donated to the aluminum atom to complete its outer shell. This results in forming a dimer, which is electron-deficient and requires two electrons to complete its outer shell.

Coordinate Bond in Hydronium Ion

Hydronium Ion is formed when oxygen atom in water denotes an electron pair of electrons to the vacant orbital of H⁺ ion. The structure for the same is shown in the image added below,

Coordinate Bond in Ammonia Boron Trifluoride

Ammonia Boron Trifluoride is formed when nitrogen atom in Ammonia donates one pair of electrons to the vacant orbital of the Boron atom in the Boron Trifluoride. The structure for the same is shown in the image added below,

Coordinate Bond in Transition Metal Complexes

Coordinate covalent bonding is common in transition metal complexes, where a central electrophile (usually a transition metal ion) bonds with one or more nucleophiles (ligands). For example, in the complex [VO]SO₄, Vanadium (VO) acts as the central electrophile, and sulfate (SO₄) serves as the ligand. The sulfate ligand has a lone pair of electrons to donate to the vanadium ion, forming a coordinate covalent bond.

Coordinate Bond is a special type of covalent bond in which both electrons or an electron pair that is shared between two atoms come from the same atom. Coordinate bonds are also called Dative Bonds or Dipolar Bonds. Coordinate bonds are commonly found in coordination compounds.

In this article, we will look into what a coordinate bond is, its characteristics, examples, and others in detail.