Question

Examples of tridentate ligands

Answer 1

A tridentate ligand (or terdentate ligand) is a ligand that has three atoms that can function as donor atoms in a coordination compound.[1]

Well known tridentate ligands include diethylenetriamine with three nitrogen donor atoms, and the iminodiacetic anion made from iminodiacetic acid with one nitrogen and a pair of carboxylate groups.


diethylenetriamine, NH(CH2CH2NH2)2

Answer 2

Molecules with four donor atoms are called tetradentate ligands ; five donor atoms , pentadentate ; and six donor atoms hexadentate . A complex that contains a polydentate ligand is called a chelate . EDTA binding to a central metal atom is an example of a chelate . Also , see crown compounds .