Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of covalent bond: A coordinate bond is a specific kind of covalent chemical bond.
   • Electron pair donation: In this bond, both electrons forming the shared pair are donated by a single atom (the donor).
   • Also known as: It is also commonly called a dative covalent bond or a dative bond.

Usage

• General Context: Used primarily in chemistry to describe a specific bonding mechanism between atoms or ions.
• Formation: The bond is formed when an atom or ion with a lone pair of electrons (the donor, often a Lewis base) shares that pair with an atom or ion that has an empty orbital (the acceptor, often a Lewis acid).

Examples

• In a sentence:
  • The ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) is formed when a nitrogen atom in ammonia (NH₃) forms a coordinate bond with a hydrogen ion (H⁺).
  • In the carbon monoxide molecule (CO), the bond involves a coordinate bond from oxygen to carbon in addition to two conventional covalent bonds.
  • The formation of a complex ion, like [Cu(NH₃)₄]²⁺, involves multiple coordinate bonds between the copper ion and the ammonia molecules.

Advanced Usage

• In Coordination Chemistry: The term is fundamental in describing the structure of coordination compounds and complex ions, where a central metal atom or ion is bonded to surrounding ligands via coordinate bonds.
  • The stability of the complex is due to the strength of the coordinate bonds between the metal center and its ligands.
• Representation: Often represented in structural formulas by an arrow (→) pointing from the donor atom to the acceptor atom, distinguishing it from a standard covalent bond (represented by a line, –).

Variants and Related Words

• Dative bond: A complete synonym for coordinate bond.
• Dative covalent bond: A synonym that explicitly includes "covalent" to clarify the bond type.
• Coordinate covalent bond: A less common but technically accurate synonym.
• Lewis adduct: The product formed when a coordinate bond is created between a Lewis acid and a Lewis base.

Synonyms

• Dative bond
• Dative covalent bond

Related Concepts (Not Phrasal Verbs/Idioms)

• Covalent bond: The broader category of chemical bond involving shared electron pairs.
• Lewis acid: An electron pair acceptor.
• Lewis base: An electron pair donor.
• Coordination complex: A structure held together by coordinate bonds.

Noun

1. a covalent bond in which both electrons are provided by one of the atoms