Title: central atom
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - central atom
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.C00930
Status: current

Definition
The atom in a coordination entity which binds other atoms or groups of atoms (ligands) to itself, thereby occupying a central position in the coordination entity.

Related Terms
- coordination entity: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/C01330
- ligands: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/L03518

Source
- Red Book, 3rd ed., p. 146

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/C00930/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/C00930/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/C00930/xml

Citation: Citation: 'central atom' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.C00930
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Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.
Accessed: 2026-05-10T00:06:53+00:00