Question

Is Benzene a Ligand?

Answer 1

Hint: BA ligand is an ion or molecule that provides a central metal atom or ion with two electrons to create a coordination complex. The Latin root of the term "ligand" means "to tie or bind." Anions, cations, and neutral substances can all function as ligands. Lewis bases are ligands that donate electron pairs, and Lewis acids are central metal atoms (electron pair acceptor). Covalent and ionic bonds are two different types of bonding that can exist between a metal and its ligand.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
An ion or molecule that binds to the main metal atom to create a coordination entity or complex compounds is known as a ligand. The number of binding sites with the central metal atom, charge, and size are used to categorise ligands. A ligand can be classified as anionic, cationic, acidic, monodentate, bidentate, or polydentate depending on the size, charge, and number of lone pair electrons needed for the central metal atom.

The benzene and cyclopentadienyl ligands are potential donors of 6 -electrons because they are formally neutral and monoanionic ligands, respectively. However, the number of electrons that can be efficiently exchanged with the metal depends on the mode of coordination and may be less than or equal to 6. A widely used agricultural chemical is benzene. Benzene can be found in crude oil and is a significant part of gasoline. It is employed in the production of plastics, resins, synthetic fibres, rubber lubricants, dyes, detergents, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. Volcanoes and forest fires naturally produce benzene. Hence benzene is a potential ligand.

Note: An array of anions or neutral molecules are joined to a central atom by coordinate covalent bonds to form coordination compounds, which are chemical substances. Complexes of coordination are another name for coordination compounds. Ligands are the ions or molecules that are attached to the main atom (also known as complexing agents).