A ligand is best described as ________

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A ligand is a molecule or ion that donates a pair of electrons to a metal ion or a metal complex. This is the definition of a Lewis base, so the best choice is B. A Lewis acid is a molecule or ion that accepts a pair of electrons, which is not what a ligand does. Similarly, a Brønsted-Lowry acid donates a proton while a Brønsted-Lowry base accepts a proton, which are not relevant to ligands. Finally, although some ligands may be ions, this is not a defining characteristic of a ligand.

A Ligand Is Best Described as ________