Question

EDTA is a ________

• A. Tridentate ligands
• B. Bidentate ligands
• C. Hexadentate Ligands
• D. None of the option

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Hexadentate Ligands

The explanation for the correct option:

Denticity: The number of donor sites that are present in a ligand that can bind to a central metal atom is called denticity.

(C) Hexadentate Ligands: The ligand having six donor sites that can bind to a central metal atom is called a hexadentate ligand.

EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is an example of a hexadentate ligand having six donor sites. i.e., two nitrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms.

The structure of EDTA having six donor sites (red coloured) is given below.

The explanation for the incorrect option:

(A) Tridentate ligands: The ligand having only three donor sites is called the tridentate ligand. Example: Diethylenetriamine.

(B) Bidentate ligands: The ligand having two donor sites is called the bidentate ligand.Example: Ethylenediamine.

(D) None of the option

Therefore, option(C) is correct. i.e., EDTA is a hexadentate ligand.