Determining if polydentate [ENDORSED]

[Payton Schwesinger 1J]

Does the number of lone pairs correspond to the number of ligands it can attach to? For example, if a molecule has an oxygen with 2 lone pairs then does that mean the molecule is bidentate?

[Chem_Mod]

No, you cannot assume that the compound can make as many coordinations as lone pair. For example, the oxygen in water has two lone pairs, but only one can coordinate to the metal, because the other one cannot reach the second coordination domain. Larger molecules can be polydentate if they can "wrap" around the central atom and reach other domains. For example, EDTA is large and can reach six coordination regions.