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Valence Bond Theory

Valence Bond Theory

Coordination compounds and complexes exhibit different colors, geometries, and magnetic behavior, depending on the metal atom/ion and ligands from which they are composed. In an attempt to explain the bonding and structure of coordination complexes, Linus Pauling proposed the valence bond theory, or VBT, using the concepts of hybridization and the overlapping of the atomic orbitals. According to VBT, the central metal atom or ion (Lewis acid) hybridizes to provide empty orbitals of suitable...

Colors and Magnetism

Colors and Magnetism

Color in Coordination Complexes
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.

Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature

Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature

In most main group element compounds, the valence electrons of the isolated atoms combine to form chemical bonds that satisfy the octet rule. For instance, the four valence electrons of carbon overlap with electrons from four hydrogen atoms to form CH4. The one valence electron leaves sodium and adds to the seven valence electrons of chlorine to form the ionic formula unit NaCl (Figure 1a). Transition metals do not normally bond in this fashion. They primarily form coordinate covalent bonds, a...

Coordination Number and Geometry

Coordination Number and Geometry

For transition metal complexes, the coordination number determines the geometry around the central metal ion. Table 1 compares coordination numbers to molecular geometry. The most common structures of the complexes in coordination compounds are octahedral, tetrahedral, and square planar.

Metal-Ligand Bonds

Metal-Ligand Bonds

The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

Crystal Field Theory
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Nanofabrication of Gate-defined GaAs/AlGaAs Lateral Quantum Dots

Nanofabrication of Gate-defined GaAs/AlGaAs Lateral Quantum Dots

Published on: November 1, 2013

Design of magnetic coordination complexes for quantum computing.

Guillem Aromí¹, David Aguilà, Patrick Gamez

¹Departament de Química Inorgànica, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. guillem.aromi@qi.ub.es

Chemical Society Reviews

|August 6, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers propose synthetic methods for creating magnetic molecules capable of performing quantum logic operations. These paramagnetic complexes are designed as two-qubit quantum gates for advanced computing applications.

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Area of Science:

Coordination chemistry
Quantum computing
Molecular magnetism

Background:

Quantum logic operations require specific molecular properties.
Paramagnetic molecules are key candidates for qubits.
Developing functional molecules for quantum gates is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce the requirements for paramagnetic molecules as two-qubit quantum gates.
To propose novel synthetic strategies for designing such functional molecules.
To present initial findings from these synthetic programs.

Main Methods:

Ligand design and inorganic synthesis approaches.
Targeting molecules with pairs of weakly coupled paramagnetic metal aggregates.
Designing dinuclear complexes of anisotropic metal ions with feeble magnetic coupling.

Main Results:

Presentation of the first synthesized systems based on the proposed strategies.
Discussion of the properties of these novel molecular systems.
Demonstration of synthetic accessibility for qubit-candidate molecules.

Conclusions:

Synthetic strategies provide access to molecules for quantum computing.
The designed complexes show potential for realizing two-qubit quantum gates.
Further investigation of these systems will advance molecular quantum information processing.