Question

Explain with two examples of the following:

ligand

Answer 1

1. Ammonia (NH₃) as a Ligand: Ammonia acts as a ligand when it binds to a central metal ion like copper (Cu²⁺) to form a complex. The nitrogen atom in ammonia has a lone pair of electrons, which it donates to the copper ion. This creates a coordination complex such as [Cu(NH₃)₄]²⁺, where ammonia is the ligand.
2. Chloride Ion (Cl⁻) as a Ligand: Chloride ions can also act as ligands. For example, when chloride ions bind to a metal ion like silver (Ag⁺), they form a complex like [AgCl₂]⁻. In this case, each chloride ion donates a lone pair of electrons to the silver ion, forming a coordinate bond.