Question

What are unidentate ligands with more than one co-ordinating atom called?

Answer 1

Ambidentate ligand:

• A ligand that has two different donor atoms and either of the two ligetes in the complex is called ambidentate ligand.
• Examples of such ligands are: nitrite ligand, ${{\mathrm{NO}}_2}^{-}$.
• ${{\mathrm{NO}}_2}^{-}$ ion can coordinate either through nitrogen or through oxygen to a central metal atom/ion.

Thus, the unidentate ligands with more than one co-ordinating atom are called Ambidentate ligands.