Ligands

Scheme of the organic pyridine ligand

A ligand is an atom, ion, or molecule that donates one or more electron pairs to a central atom. A ligand is a part of complex (coordination) compounds. Every complex compound contains a central atom (cation) and an anion or neutral complex (ligand).

Dividing ligands

• according to the number of coordination covalent bonds:
  • single bond
  • double bonds
  • multiple bonds

• according to the type of donor atom:
  • oxygen ligands: water, OH^-
  • carbon ligands: carbonyl
  • sulfur ligands: hydrogen sulfide
  • phosphate ligands: phosphane

Links

• ws:Ligand

Related Articles

• Complex compounds
• Coordination convalent bond

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