Ligands

[605379296]

Is there ever an instance when ligands don't have a lone pair? If the central element does not have a lone pair does that mean it is not a ligand? If so, what else can it be?

[nicolely2F]

The central atom isn't a ligand -- the ligand is a structure that will bond to a central atom. The ligand needs to have a lone pair available for bonding with the central atom.

[Alexandra Bartolome 2H]

Ligands must have one or more lone pairs. When it has one lone pair of electrons, it is mono-dentate and binds with the central metal atom. When it has more than one lone pair, it can occupy more than one binding site at once and this can be labeled as chelating.

[Matthew Tsai 2H]

A ligand must have a lone pair; otherwise it would be unable to bind to the central cation and form a coordination complex.