Factors Determining the Stability of Complex Compounds in Solution

Abstract

The stability of a complex particle (ion or molecule) in solution is determined by the nature of the central atom and the ligands. The most important characteristics of the central atom, determining the stability of the complex compound, are the degree of oxidation (charge on the central ion in the case of ionic complexes), the dimensions, and the electronic structure. In the case of complexes with monatomic ligands, stability is dependent on the same characteristics in the ligand (charge, radius and electronic structure). The strength of binding for ligand molecules and polyatomic ions depends, in addition, on the nature of the atoms directly linked to the central atom, and on the particular features of the structure of the ligand molecule (orion).