CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

How do you define chelate and polydentate and how are they different?

Polydentate is when a single ligand has multiple sites where it can bind to a metal cation. Chelate refers to the whole complex which contains a ligand that forms a ring of atoms that include the central metal atom. When talking about the chelating ligand, it essentially is a polydentate ligand that forms a ring with the metal cation.

Hope that helps!

Chelates form a ring around the central atom, whereas polydentate ligands allow more than one of its binding sites to be occupied. I think that a polydentate ligand can be a chelate, but they are not necessarily a chelate.

Sarah Zhari 1C wrote:Chelates form a ring around the central atom, whereas polydentate ligands allow more than one of its binding sites to be occupied. I think that a polydentate ligand can be a chelate, but they are not necessarily a chelate.

In the review session i'm pretty sure Matthew said all polydentate ligands chelate.

AngieGarcia_4F wrote:

Sarah Zhari 1C wrote:Chelates form a ring around the central atom, whereas polydentate ligands allow more than one of its binding sites to be occupied. I think that a polydentate ligand can be a chelate, but they are not necessarily a chelate.

In the review session i'm pretty sure Matthew said all polydentate ligands chelate.

But all chelates have to be polydentate too right?

JChen_3C wrote:

AngieGarcia_4F wrote:

Sarah Zhari 1C wrote:Chelates form a ring around the central atom, whereas polydentate ligands allow more than one of its binding sites to be occupied. I think that a polydentate ligand can be a chelate, but they are not necessarily a chelate.

In the review session i'm pretty sure Matthew said all polydentate ligands chelate.

But all chelates have to be polydentate too right?

Yeah I believe so

AngieGarcia_4F wrote:

Sarah Zhari 1C wrote:Chelates form a ring around the central atom, whereas polydentate ligands allow more than one of its binding sites to be occupied. I think that a polydentate ligand can be a chelate, but they are not necessarily a chelate.

In the review session i'm pretty sure Matthew said all polydentate ligands chelate.

I must have missed that. Thanks!