Question #9ce37

1 Answer
anor277
Dec 6, 2016

Clearly, the oxygen atom is the donor atom towards a metal cation.

Explanation:

We often write #M^(n+)(aq)# to represent a metal ion in solution. By this we mean the #"aquated complex"#, the coordination complex if you like between the #M^(n+)# ion and several water ligands.

So when we write #Fe^(2+)(aq)# or #Na^(+)(aq)# we mean the hexaqua complexes, #[Fe(OH_2)_6]^(2+)# or #[Na(OH_2)_6]^(+)#. The oxygen atom has lone electron pairs, and clearly acts as the donor, i.e. as the base, towards a Lewis-acidic metal cation.

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