In terms of bonding, which is true about ligands in coordination complexes?

In coordination chemistry, ligands are compounds or ions that can donate electron pairs to a central metal atom or ion to form coordination complexes. A key characteristic of ligands is that they typically possess lone pairs of electrons that they can share with the metal center. These lone pairs enable the formation of coordinate covalent bonds, where both electrons in the bond originate from the ligand. Additionally, many ligands often carry a negative charge, which enhances their ability to coordinate with positively charged metal ions, thereby stabilizing the overall complex.

The ability of ligands to stabilize coordination complexes is crucial as it influences the geometry, reactivity, and properties of the resulting compound. Therefore, ligands that carry lone pairs or have a negative charge play a fundamental role in the formation and stability of these coordination complexes.