Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which elements can form the metal-carbon bonds found in organometallic compounds?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

periodic table with group numbers and the s, p, d, and f blocks — organometallic compound The periodic table of the elements, displaying the group numbers and the s, p, d, and f blocks. Elements in the shaded area are the metals of organometallic chemistry.

In the study of organometallic chemistry, the term "metal" is interpreted broadly to include most elements in the periodic table that can form a bond with a carbon atom belonging to an organic group.12

Elements Capable of Forming Metal-Carbon Bonds

The "metal" component of an organometallic compound can include:
* True Metals: This category encompasses a wide range of elements, such as lithium, magnesium, aluminum, and iron.1
* Metalloids: Elements such as boron, silicon, germanium, and arsenic are also considered to form organometallic compounds when attached to organic groups.1

Excluded Elements

The definition of organometallic compounds generally excludes elements that do not typically form these specific metal-carbon bonds. These include:
* Nitrogen and phosphorus in group 15.
* All elements in group 16 (the oxygen group).
* All halogens (group 17).
* All noble gases (group 18).1

It is important to note that while these elements can form bonds with carbon, compounds where the carbon is not part of an organic group—such as metal carbides or metal cyanide compounds—are not classified as organometallic.1