Chemistry · D and f Block Elements
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Ethylene diamine tetra acetate ion (EDTA) is a polydentate ligand, it bonds to central metal atom through:
- A
Two of its atoms
- B
Three of its atoms
- C
Four of its atoms
- D
Six of its atoms
When this ion bonds to a metal atom, the two N atoms, and four of the O atoms, are used. In this complex, a single EDTA4- ion forms 6 bonds to the Fe atom (i.e., 2 Fe-N bonds and 4 Fe-O bonds). The coordination number of 6 results in an octahedral structure.
a) Two of its atoms:
If EDTA bonds to the central metal atom through two of its atoms, it would be a bidentate ligand. However, EDTA is a polydentate ligand, meaning it can form multiple bonds with the central metal atom.
b) Three of its atoms:
If EDTA bonds to the central metal atom through three of its atoms, it would be a tridentate ligand. While EDTA has multiple donor atoms, it can form more bonds than just three.
c) Four of its atoms:
If EDTA bonds to the central metal atom through four of its atoms, it would be a quadridentate ligand. Again, while EDTA has multiple donor atoms, it can form more bonds than just four.
d) Six of its atoms:
The correct answer is that EDTA bonds to the central metal atom through six of its atoms, making it a hexadentate ligand. EDTA can form a total of six bonds with the central metal atom due to the presence of six coordination sites in its structure.
Tagged under Chemistry · D and f Block Elements · 2013