Textbook Question
The oxalate ion is a bidentate ligand as indicated in Figure 21.8. Would you expect the carbonate ion to be a monodentate or bidentate ligand? Explain your reasoning.
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds
Classification of Ligands
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How many donor atoms are in each ligand?
A
a) 2
b) 2
c) 3
b) 2
c) 3
B
a) 1
b) 1
c) 2
b) 1
c) 2
C
a) 2
b) 1
c) 3
b) 1
c) 3
D
a) 1
b) 2
c) 4
b) 2
c) 4
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the ligands in the image. Each ligand is a molecule or ion that can donate a pair of electrons to a metal atom to form a coordination complex.
For each ligand, determine the number of donor atoms. A donor atom is an atom within the ligand that has a lone pair of electrons available for donation to the metal center.
Examine the first ligand (a) in the image. Count the number of atoms that have lone pairs available for donation. Typically, these are nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur atoms.
Examine the second ligand (b) in the image. Again, count the number of atoms with lone pairs available for donation.
Examine the third ligand (c) in the image. Count the number of donor atoms, which are atoms with lone pairs that can form coordinate bonds with the metal center.
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Classification of Ligands practice set
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