Question

What types of ions can accept pairs of electrons and be involved in coordinate bonding?

1) Cations
2) Anions
3) Both cations and anions
4) None of the above

Answer 1

Both cations and anions can accept pairs of electrons and be involved in coordinate bonding, with cations being the more common acceptor in many compounds. Cations form by losing electrons, not gaining protons. Iron(III) sulfate is uncharged because the charges of its constituent ions balance each other out.

Step-by-step explanation:

The types of ions that can accept pairs of electrons to form coordinate bonds are primarily cations. Cations, such as metal ions, often have empty orbitals that can accept electron pairs from a donor atom or molecule, which acts as a Lewis base. However, anions can also act as electron pair acceptors in certain contexts, especially when dealing with transition metal complexes. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is Both cations and anions can accept pairs of electrons and be involved in coordinate bonding.

To answer the exercises from the information provided:

1. 
   
3. A cation does not gain protons to form a positive charge; instead, it loses electrons.
4. 
   
6. The compound iron(III) sulfate [Fe₂(SO4)₃] is composed of Fe³⁺ and SO4²⁻ ions. Despite containing charged ions, a sample of iron(III) sulfate is uncharged overall because the positive charges of the iron cations and the negative charges of the sulfate anions balance each other out, resulting in a net zero charge.