Über die Konstitution der anorganischen Verbindungen (On the Constitution of Inorganic Compounds)

Summary

Alfred Werner's "Über die Konstitution der anorganischen Verbindungen" (On the Constitution of Inorganic Compounds) establishes the central thesis that coordination compounds possess a definite internal structure, characterized by a central metal atom bonded to surrounding ligands through distinct forces. This groundbreaking work dismantled the prevailing view of inorganic compounds as simple, undefined aggregates and laid the foundation for modern coordination chemistry.

The book introduces and defines key concepts such as primary and secondary valence, explaining how these govern the formation and stability of complex ions. Werner presents empirical evidence and a logical framework for determining the spatial arrangement of ligands around a metal center, thereby explaining isomerism in coordination compounds. Readers gain an understanding of how to predict and interpret the structures and properties of inorganic complexes, moving beyond empirical observation to systematic chemical reasoning.

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Key concepts

• Primary Valence — The ionogenic character of the bond between the central metal atom and the ligands, which results in ions.
• Secondary Valence — The non-ionogenic character of the bond between the central metal atom and the ligands, which determines the coordination number.
• Coordination Number — The number of atoms directly attached to the central metal atom in a complex.
• Inner Sphere — The complex ion, consisting of the central metal atom and its ligands.
• Outer Sphere — The ions outside the complex ion, which are counter-ions.