Ligand Types
Which ligand is ambidentate?
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- coordination compounds
- Topic
- ligand types
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
SCN−
- Ambidentate Definition: A ligand that has more than one donor atom but coordinates through only one of them at a time during complex formation.
- Evaluation:
- SCN− (Thiocyanate): It can coordinate through Sulfur (M−SCN, thiocyanato) or through Nitrogen (M−NCS, isothiocyanato).
- CN− (Cyanide): Ideally ambidentate (can bind via C or N), but practically binds almost exclusively through Carbon in stable complexes. In standard textbooks, SCN− and NO2− are the classic examples of ambidentate behavior.
- NH3: Monodentate via N.
- en: Bidentate via both N atoms simultaneously.
- Answer: SCN− is the most characteristic ambidentate ligand listed.
This easy difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter coordination compounds, covering the topic of ligand types. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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