Stability of Complexes
The thermodynamic tendency of a complex to persist rather than dissociate into metal ion and free ligands.
Formula / equation
K_stability
Unit
Various
In depth
Stability increases with metal ion charge and decreasing size, with ligand basicity, with chelation and with a good match between hard or soft metal and donor atom. The Irving–Williams series gives the near-universal stability order across the divalent first-row metals.
Examples in the real world
The Irving–Williams order Mn²⁺ < Fe²⁺ < Co²⁺ < Ni²⁺ < Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ holding for almost every ligand.