EDTA is

CONCEPT:

Ligands and Denticity

• A ligand is an ion or molecule that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex.
• The number of donor atoms of a ligand that bind to the central metal atom is called the denticity of the ligand.
• Ligands can be classified based on their denticity:
  • Unidentate ligand: Binds through a single donor atom.
  • Bidentate ligand: Binds through two donor atoms.
  • Tridentate ligand: Binds through three donor atoms.
  • Hexadentate ligand: Binds through six donor atoms.

EXPLANATION:

• EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is a common ligand used in coordination chemistry.
• EDTA has six donor atoms (four oxygen atoms from carboxyl groups and two nitrogen atoms from amine groups) that can simultaneously bind to a central metal atom.
• This makes EDTA a hexadentate ligand because it can form six bonds with the central metal atom.

Therefore, EDTA is a hexadentate ligand.