Question

What type of ligand is cyanide?

Answer 1

1. Cyanide(${\mathrm{CN}}^{-}$) is a neutral ligand.
2. Cyanides are commonly known as the family of cyanometallates or cyanometalates.
3. It can form both $\mathrm{\sigma }\mathrm{and}\mathrm{\pi }$ bonds with the metal and pseudohalides.
4. It is a type of strong field ligand that can pair all the unpaired electrons.
5. It can accept electrons from the metal species.
6. Cyanide is an ambidentate ligand means it can donate the pair of electrons from both C and N atoms.