Question
Briefly classify the type of ligands on the basis of their ligating ability.
Solution
Ligand on the basis of their ligating ability can be classified as:
(i) Monodenate: When the ligands can donate the pair of electrons from one atom, it is called monodenate ligand, e.g., NH3, H2O, CN– etc.
(ii) Didentate: When the ligand can donate the pair of electrons through two atoms of the ligand, it is called didentate ligand, e.g., ethylene diamine
(iii) Polydentate ligands : When the ligand has three or more atoms through which it can donate electron pairs, then the ligands are called polydentate ligands, e.g., edta(ethylene diamine tetra-acetate ion)
