cobaltammine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2+Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “cobaltammine” mean?
A specific inorganic coordination compound in which cobalt ions are bonded to ammonia molecules (NH₃).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific inorganic coordination compound in which cobalt ions are bonded to ammonia molecules (NH₃).
Refers to a class of cobalt(III) coordination complexes where ammonia acts as a ligand. These compounds are historically and pedagogically significant in coordination chemistry for illustrating concepts like isomerism and bonding theory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences. Spelling and terminology are identical in scientific English.
Connotations
None beyond its strict scientific definition.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both varieties, confined to advanced chemistry contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cobaltammine” in a Sentence
[cobaltammine] + [salt/anion] (e.g., cobaltammine bromide)[adjective] + [cobaltammine] (e.g., hexamminecobaltammine)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cobaltammine” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The cobaltammine complex was isolated.
- The cobaltammine synthesis procedure is standard.
American English
- The cobaltammine compound exhibited isomerism.
- A cobaltammine chloride sample was analyzed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in advanced undergraduate and postgraduate chemistry lectures, textbooks, and research papers on coordination chemistry.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Core term in specific subfields of inorganic and coordination chemistry for describing classic complexes like [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl₃.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cobaltammine”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cobaltammine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cobaltammine”
- Misspelling as 'cobaltamine' (which would imply an organic amine of cobalt).
- Confusing it with cobalt blue (the pigment).
- Using it outside a chemistry context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised term used only in advanced chemistry.
Typically, it refers specifically to cobalt(III) complexes with ammonia ligands, not simple mixtures or cobalt(II) species.
They were crucial in Alfred Werner's work in the 1890s, which established the modern theory of coordination chemistry and won him the Nobel Prize.
It is pronounced with primary stress on the second syllable 'balt', and secondary stress on the last syllable 'mine': /koʊˈbɑːltəˌmiːn/ (US) or /kəʊˈbɔːltəˌmiːn/ (UK).
A specific inorganic coordination compound in which cobalt ions are bonded to ammonia molecules (NH₃).
Cobaltammine is usually technical / scientific in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COBALT + AMMONIA = cobaltammine. It's where cobalt meets amine groups from ammonia.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A. The term is a literal, technical descriptor.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'cobaltammine' primarily used?