Question

EDTA is generally a _______

Answer 1

Explanation

• Denticity: in coordination chemistry, denticity (from Latin dentist 'tooth') refers to the number of donor groups in a given ligand that binds to the central metal atom in a coordination complex.
• EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) has six donors.
• The formula of it is not very simple to get if you know the name of the elements in it. It forms from 10 carbon atoms, 16 hydrogen atoms, 2 nitrogen atoms, and 8 oxygen atoms. In this way, its chemical formula is C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₈.
• The structure of EDTA showing six donor sites, i.e., two nitrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms is given below.

Hence, EDTA is generally a Hexadentate ligand.