Question

What is $\mathrm{EDTA}$? What is its denticity?

Answer 1

EDTA ligand:

• “Ligands are donor atoms, molecules or anions that donate a pair of electrons to metal atoms.”
• The full form of EDTA is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.

Denticity:

• It is defined as the number of donor atoms present in a ligand.
• If denticity is one, then there is a single donor atom in the ligand and the ligand is said to be monodentate.
• $\mathrm{EDTA}$ contains two nitrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms through which it can coordinate.

Therefore, the denticity of $\mathrm{EDTA}$ is $6$.