The coordination number is the number of ligands directly attached to the central metal ion in a coordination compound. These ligands can be ions, atoms, or molecules. The most common coordination number is 6, but it is also not rare to see 2 and 4 as coordination numbers.
(Co(en)- There are four ligands bonded with the central metal ion (en is bidentate) so the coordination number is 6. This compound consists of 6 ions .
- There are six ligands bonded with , so the coordination number is 6; there are 4 ligands bonded with , so the coordination number is 4. This compound consists of 17 ions and .
- There are six ligands bonded with a central metal ion, so the coordination number is 6. This compound consists of 11 ions ( - and