complexing

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of complex.

   The metal ions are complexing with the surrounding ligands in solution.

   Complexing the iron with a chelator keeps it soluble in the blood.

   Note

   The -ing form of a verb with two quite different jobs. In the laboratory it is intransitive and pairs with the preposition with: ions complexing with ligands. As a transitive verb it can also mean complicating, a use far from chemistry. Once the action itself becomes a nameable, countable thing, it crosses over into the chemist's noun, which even takes a plural, complexings.

2. 2
   noununcountable

   The chemical process by which a complex forms, joining a central atom with surrounding molecules or ions.

   The complexing of metal ions with organic molecules is common in biological systems.

   Chemists studied the complexing that occurred when the two solutions were mixed.

   Similarcomplexation, binding

   Note

   Chemistry uses this word for the event, not the product. A complex is what results, and complexing is its coming into being. Complexation is an exact synonym. The usual pattern is the complexing of one species with another, such as metal ions with ligands. The partners are introduced by of and then with, which mirrors the construction of the verb form.

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