Home > Community > Why multidentate chelating agent form stronger complexes with metal ions than bidentate or monodentate ligands?
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Ludeman Eng

Why multidentate chelating agent form stronger complexes with metal ions than bidentate or monodentate ligands?

Chris Myers  Follow

Well, this occurs on account of the [math]ext{chelate effect}[/math]. STATISTICALLY, a multidentate donor is more likely to bind to a metal centre than is a bidentate donor, the which in turn is more likely to bind to a metal centre than is a UNIDENTATE donor….

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Bob McCown  Follow

A monodentate ligand uses one site of coordination, one tooth, to fix one metal atom or ion.

A bidentate ligand uses two sites of coordination, two teeth, to fix one metal atom or ion.

A tridentate ligand uses three sites of coordination, three teeth, to fix a metal atom or ion.

Therefore multidentate ligands, use more coordination sites to fix one metal atom or ion and form stronger or more stable complexes as the number of coordination sites increases.

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