Answer to Question #182676 in General Chemistry for Khushi

Question

Explain with a suitable example the kappa convention for naming coordination compounds.

Answer 1

The kappa convention is used to specify which ligand atoms are bonding to the central atom and in polynuclear species which atoms, both bridged and unbridged, link to which central atom. For monodentate ligands there is no ambiguity as to which atom is forming the bond to the central atom.

O₂ dioxygen (acceptable name oxygen)