In Class 12 Coordination Chemistry, a ligand is an atom, ion, or molecule that donates a lone pair of electrons to the central metal ion. An Ambidentate Ligand is a special type that can bond to the metal through two different donor atoms.
Definition: Can donate electron pair through two different atoms.
Key Example 1: SCN⁻ (through S or N).
Key Example 2: NO₂⁻ (through N or O).
Result: Gives rise to Linkage Isomerism.
An ambidentate ligand has two potential donor atoms but bonds through only one at a time.
Example 1: Thiocyanate ion (SCN⁻)
Example 2: Nitrite ion (NO₂⁻)
Because ambidentate ligands can coordinate through either atom, they give rise to linkage isomers — two different coordination compounds with the same formula but different bonding. Example: [Co(NH₃)₅(NO₂)]Cl₂ and [Co(NH₃)₅(ONO)]Cl₂.
An ambidentate ligand can bond to the central metal ion through two different donor atoms. Example: SCN⁻ can bond through S or N.
Linkage isomerism arises when an ambidentate ligand coordinates through different atoms in two compounds with the same formula.
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