ligands and dentates

[josephyim1L]

Can someone explain what a ligand is, how to identify it, and what it means that a ligand binds at "monodentate" or "bidentate"?

[Elena Saab 4A]

A ligand is any electron rich species that forms 1 or more bonds with a cation. A mono dentate bonds with a cation at 1 site, so it donates 1 electron pair. A Bidentate bonds at 2 sites, and donates 2 electron pairs. A tridentate bonds at 3 sites, and a hexadendate bonds at 6 sites.

[whitney_2C]

A ligand is a species that has at least one set of unpaired electrons that it uses to form a coordinate covalent bond with a metal atom. Monodentate means that it has one set of unpaired electrons that it donates to create the bond whereas bidentate means that it has two sets of unpaired electrons that it can donate to form two different coordinate covalent bonds.

[Mayaal_Khan_4H]

A ligand is an atom or molecule attached to a central atom, usually a metallic element, in a coordination or complex compound.
Ligands must have one or more lone pairs, they bind at:
1 site---> donate 1e- pair ---> Monodentate
2 sites--->donate 2e- pair ---> Bidentate
3 sites--->donate 3e- pair ---->Tridentate
6 sites--->donate 6e- pair ---> Hexadentate