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Coordination Compounds as Lewis Acid-Base Adducts

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A coordination compound forms when a central metal ion, acting as a Lewis acid, accepts electron pairs donated by ligands acting as Lewis bases.

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In [Co(NH3)6]3+, six ammonia molecules each donate a nitrogen lone pair to the central cobalt ion.

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These are real bonds, not a loose association — "coordinate covalent" describes where the electrons originated, not bond strength.