Sponsor Area

Coordination Compounds

Question
CBSEENCH12007584

Describe briefly the nature of bonding in metal carbonyls.

Solution

The carbonyls are formed by most of the transition metals. These carbonyls have simple, well defined structures.

The metal-carbon bond in metal carbonyls
possess both σ and π character. The M–C σ bond is formed by the donation of lone pair of electrons on the carbonyl carbon into a vacant orbital of the metal. The M–C π bond is formed by the donation of a pair of electrons from a filled d orbital of metal into the vacant antibonding π* orbital of carbon monoxide. The metal to ligand bonding creates a synergic effect which strengthens the bond between CO and the metal.