Question

what is meant by unidentate,bidentate and ambidentate ligands?

Answer 1

The donor atom or ion or molecule in the coordination compound act as Lewis base and donate its extra pair or a lone pair of electrons to the central metal atom ion to form coordination or dative bond in the coordination complex. Overall metal atom or ion acts as Lewis acid while ligands act as Lewis base in the coordination compound

Answer 2

Answer:

( i ) Unidentate ligands : these are ligands with one donor site. Example Cl– , NH3

( ii )  Ambidentate ligands : these are ligands that fasten themselves to the central metal ion/ atom via two different atoms.

Example NO–2or ONO– , CN– or NC–

( iii ) Didentate – these are ligands with two donor sites.

Example – Ethane-1,2-diamine , Oxalate ion ( C2O42- )