Ligand type influence

[Wendy Phung]

How do the different types of ligands affect the molecule's structure as a whole? For example, if a bidentate ligand was replaced by a monodentate ligand, would we see any structural changes within the molecule?

[AnthonyEdwardsLec1]

Hi, yes the amount of "dentates" that a ligand has affects the shape, because for instance the chelate structures that many ligands formed are based on how many "dentates" a ligand is. Since ligands are also essentially sharing lone pairs which normally have an affect on a molecule's shape, then it would also make sense that ligands, especially those that bind at multiple sites would affect shape.