What is the Difference Between Bidentate and Ambidentate Ligands?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between bidentate and ambidentate ligands lies in their bonding capabilities and the number of donor atoms they possess.
Bidentate Ligands:
- Have two donor atoms, which can donate their lone electron pairs.
- Can form two coordinate covalent bonds simultaneously.
- Examples include ethylenediamine and oxalate ion.
Ambidentate Ligands:
- Have two donor atoms but can only bind to one atom at a time.
- Can form one coordinate covalent bond at a time.
- Examples include thiocyanate ion and nitrate ion.
In summary, bidentate ligands can form two bonds at once, while ambidentate ligands can only form one bond at a time, despite having two donor atoms.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Bidentate and Ambidentate Ligands? Comparative Table: Bidentate vs Ambidentate Ligands
Comparative Table: Bidentate vs Ambidentate Ligands
The main difference between bidentate and ambidentate ligands lies in their bond formation capabilities. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences:
| Property | Bidentate Ligands | Ambidentate Ligands |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Bidentate ligands are molecules or ions that can bind to a central atom via two bonds at the same time. | Ambidentate ligands are molecules or ions that have two donor atoms but are capable of binding with a central atom through only one bond at a time. |
| Bond Formation | Bidentate ligands can form two coordinate covalent bonds at a time. | Ambidentate ligands can form only one coordinate covalent bond at a time. |
| Examples | Examples of bidentate ligands include ethylenediamine and oxalate ion. | Examples of ambidentate ligands include thiocyanate ion and nitrate ion. |
Both bidentate and ambidentate ligands have two donor atoms and at least two atoms with lone electron pairs.
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