The "dentation" of a ligand is defined by ________.
A)how many "dents" or "deceptions" there are in the coordination sphere of a complex species it forms
B)how many electron donor atoms it utilizes to form coordinate bonds to the central metal ion
C)the total number of lone pairs of electrons it possesses
D)how many metal ions it can sequester from solution
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dentation of a ligand refers to how many electron donor atoms it utilizes to form coordinate bonds to the central metal ion in a complex. It does not depend on the number of "dents" or "deceptions" in the coordination sphere, the total number of lone pairs of electrons, or the number of metal ions sequestered from solution.

The "Dentation" of a Ligand Is Defined by ________