Chelate ligands, like EDTA⁴⁻, use two or more donor atoms simultaneously to bind a metal ion, forming more stable complexes than those with unidentate ligands. The denticity of the ligand is the number of such ligating groups.
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Chelate ligands, like EDTA⁴⁻, use two or more donor atoms simultaneously to bind a metal ion, forming more stable complexes than those with unidentate ligands. The denticity of the ligand is the number of such ligating groups.
Chelate ligands are multidentate ligands that form a cyclic structure when binding to a central metal ion. The resulting coordination complexes, called chelate complexes, are often more stable than complexes with unidentate ligands. The chelate effect arises from the additional stability gained due to the formation of a ring structure, which reduces the number of isomers and enhances the overall structural integrity. The increased coordination number and spatial arrangement contribute to the stability of chelate complexes, making them crucial in various applications, including medicine and catalysis. EDTA⁴⁻ is an example of a chelate ligand.