coordination number: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Academic/Specialised)Technical, Scientific, Academic
Quick answer
What does “coordination number” mean?
The number of atoms, ions, or molecules immediately surrounding a central atom in a crystal or a complex.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The number of atoms, ions, or molecules immediately surrounding a central atom in a crystal or a complex.
In a broader scientific context, it can refer to the number of nearest neighbours or direct contact points for a given entity within a defined structure. In logistics or management, it can sometimes refer to a count of coordination points or linkages.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling follows the regional conventions for 'coordination' (UK often uses 'co-ordination', US uses 'coordination' without hyphen, though in science the hyphen is often dropped even in the UK).
Connotations
None beyond the strict scientific definition.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both variants, confined to scientific literature.
Grammar
How to Use “coordination number” in a Sentence
The coordination number [of + ENTITY] is [NUMBER][ENTITY] has a coordination number of [NUMBER]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coordination number” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The coordination-number analysis was crucial.
American English
- Coordination-number calculations were performed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Primary context. Used in chemistry, physics, and materials science lectures and papers to describe atomic/molecular structures.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The definitive context. Used in research papers, technical manuals, and discussions on crystallography or inorganic chemistry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coordination number”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coordination number”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coordination number”
- Using it to mean a telephone extension or a reference code.
- Confusing it with 'oxidation number' or 'atomic number'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Valency refers to the combining capacity of an atom (often based on electrons), while coordination number counts the immediate neighbours bonded to a central atom in a structure.
Yes, in complex or disordered structures, an average coordination number can be a non-integer value.
Rarely and only by analogy, for instance, to describe the number of ligands bound to a metal ion in an enzyme's active site.
In observed chemistry, it rarely exceeds 16. Theoretical models can suggest higher numbers under extreme conditions.
The number of atoms, ions, or molecules immediately surrounding a central atom in a crystal or a complex.
Coordination number is usually technical, scientific, academic in register.
Coordination number: in British English it is pronounced /kəʊˌɔː.dɪˈneɪ.ʃən ˌnʌm.bər/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊˌɔːr.dɪˈneɪ.ʃən ˌnʌm.bɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a central atom at a party. The 'coordination number' is the count of other atoms it's directly dancing with (bonded to).
Conceptual Metaphor
CENTRALITY AND CONNECTION (The central entity is defined by the number of its immediate connections).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'coordination number' primarily used?