Question

EDTA is a ____ ligand.

Answer 1

Ligand: In coordination chemistry, a ligand is an ion or molecule (functional group) that binds to a central metal atom to form 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 a hexadentate ligand.