The coordination number of an ion in a crystal lattice is
Correct answer: A. the number of oppositely charged ions immediately surrounding it
- A. the number of oppositely charged ions immediately surrounding it
- B. the charge on the ion
- C. the number of unit cells it belongs to
- D. the number of electrons it has lost or gained
Explanation
Coordination number counts the nearest neighbours of opposite charge, so it is six in sodium chloride and eight in caesium chloride, the difference arising from the relative sizes of the ions. A larger cation can accommodate more anions around it before they begin to touch each other. The number of electrons transferred determines the charge, which is a separate quantity.
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About Shape of Ionic Crystals
Ionic crystal shape depends on the regular arrangement of oppositely charged ions in a three-dimensional lattice. The topic covers coordination number, radius ratios, lattice geometry and structures such as sodium chloride, caesium chloride and zinc sulfide, which should not be confused with the molecular shapes predicted by VSEPR theory.
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