Complex ions consist of a metal ion surrounded by anions or molecules known as ligands. Unlike most metals, complex ions form dative bonds, rather than the usual ionic bonds. A dative bond is similar to a covalent bond, but rather than forming a bond with one electron from each atom, the bond is created by the donation of a pair of electrons by one atom or ion. Ligands that have these lone pair electrons behave like Lewis bases which are defined as an electron pair donor. The metal ion in the middle is said to behave like a Lewis acid, which accepts pairs of electrons. The ligands make com…
