Coordination polyhedra

Coordination polyhedra refer to the geometric arrangements of atoms or ions surrounding a central atom in a complex, typically found in chemistry and materials science. Imagine a central atom, like a metal, surrounded by several other atoms or ions. The shape formed by these surrounding entities—such as a cube, octahedron, or tetrahedron—helps define the properties of the compound. These structures are important in understanding how substances interact, their stability, and how they behave in different environments, particularly in coordination complexes, where metals are bonded to various ligands.